Buffalo Sabres (11-15-4) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (18-10-2)
Puck Drop: 5:00 PM EST | Scotiabank Arena | Toronto, ON
TV: MSG
Know Your Opponent
Toronto Maple Leafs
Record: 18-10-2 | 38 PTS
Last Game: 4-2 loss to Detroit (Dec. 14)
Division Ranking: 1st in Atlantic
PP: 18.9% (Sabres: 14.1%)
PK: 82.2% (Sabres: 80.7%)
What to Watch
1. Blow Leafs Blow
Sunday’s game is the first meeting of the season between the Sabres and the Leafs, but you won’t have to wait long for their next meeting. After tonight, the two teams face off again, this time in Buffalo, on December 20. They’ll finish off the season series on April 15 in Buffalo.
Buffalo/Toronto games are one of the best rivalries in the NHL (okay, maybe I’m biased). Both teams are coming into tonight’s game on the heels of a loss, though obviously the Sabres are on a streak and trying to avoid 10 straight. The Leafs are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games, BUT they are also an impressive 13-4-0 on home ice this season.
2. The Leaders & Notes
The Leafs are led by Mitch Marner, who has 30 assists and 40 points, averaging 1.33 points/game. William Nylander is averaging a point-per-game, leading the team with 18 goals and adding 12 assists. John Tavares (12-13–25) and Auston Matthews (10-10–20) have also hit the 20-point mark.
The Leafs have been led by Anthony Stolarz in goal this season, but he was injured the other day, leaving Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby to step up in his absence. Woll (8-4-0 this season) played Saturday night against Detroit, which likely sets up Hildeby as Sunday’s starter against Buffalo. He has played two NHL games in his career, going 1-1 in that stretch, with a 4.03 GAA and.869 save percentage.
On the Sabres’ side, Tage Thompson leads the team with 16 assists, while Alex Tuch has the same in assists. Both have 24 points each. Jason Zucker has also broken the 20-point mark, with eight goals and 13 assists. Three of his eight goals, and a quarter of his points, have come on the power play.
It’s unclear if we’ll see Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who played last night, or James Reimer in net for Buffalo. Lukkonen is 8-9-3 this season with a 2.80 GAA and .903 save percentage, while Reimer is 1-1-1 with a 2.97 GAA and .892 save percentage.
Lindy Ruff will speak to the media at 3:10 pm from Toronto but likely won’t reveal much about his lineup.
UPDATE: The Sabres have recalled Devon Levi from the Amerks and he will start in net on Sunday. Lindy Ruff wasn’t sure if this will be a one-game recall or a longer stint for Levi. In a corresponding move, Ryan Johnson was sent down to clear a roster spot.
3. Missing Dahlin
The Sabres are still without captain and top defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, and it seems likely he’ll still be out a bit longer. Dahlin has reportedly been doing rehab skates, but still needs to rejoin the team for full practices before getting back into the lineup.
Dahlin last played in the game against the Avalanche on December 3, which marked Buffalo’s fourth consecutive loss. The Sabres have gone 0-3-2 since Dahlin’s exit from the lineup and have been outscored 21-13 in that stretch.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
JJ Peterka – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Zach Benson – Jiri Kulich – Dylan Cozens
Jordan Greenway – Ryan McLeod – Jason Zucker
Beck Malenstyn – Peyton Krebs – Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Defense
Owen Power – Mattias Samuelsson
Ryan Johnson – Bowen Byram
Dennis Gilbert – Connor Clifton
Goalies: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, James Reimer
Toronto Maple Leafs
Forwards
Matthew Knies – Auston Matthews – Mitch Marner
Max Pacioretty – John Tavares – William Nylander
Bobby McMann – Fraser Minten – Max Domi
Pontus Holmberg – Connor Dewar – Steven Lorentz
Defense
Jake McCabe – Chris Tanev
Morgan Rielly – Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Simon Benoit – Conor Timmins
Goalies: Joseph Woll, Dennis Hildeby