Buffalo Looks to Bounce Back After Capital Offense
Buffalo Sabres (40-20-6) vs Toronto Maple Leafs (28-27-11)
Puck Drop: 7:00 pm | KeyBank Center, Buffalo, N.Y.
TV: MSG-B, NHLN
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Toronto Maple Leafs
Record: 28-27-11 | 67 PTS
Last Game: Won against the Ducks, 6-4
Division Ranking: 8th in the Atlantic Division (Ha! Ha!)
PP: 19th, 20.1% (Sabres: 16th, 20.6%)
PK: 3rd, 83.5% (Sabres: 4th, 82.7%)
What to Watch
1. Back to Work
The Buffalo Sabres need to get right back to work and get back in the win column against the Leafs tonight. This was supposed to be the 10th win in a row game, matching the same feat accomplished earlier this season. Instead, the Sabres dropped the ball against Washington as the Caps snuck away with a late goal and a 2-1 victory. Buffalo played a strong first period and should have built a bigger lead. Instead, they eased up and allowed the Capitals back in it. In the third period, the Sabres were widely outplayed for the most part, a rarity these days.
Tampa Bay, Montreal, the rest of the division/conference and even the kitchen sink remain in the Sabres rear view mirror, not far behind. With the Lightning having 2 games in hand right now, it will be hard to hold them off until the end of the season. If Buffalo plans to win the division or at least not fall back into a Wild Card spot, they need to press on and pile up the victories. Theoretically, Toronto should be just what the doctor ordered. But the games are not played in theory.
2. Missing Matthews
Toronto will be without forward Auston Matthews when the teams face off tonight. In fact, he is done for the rest of the season with a grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion in his left leg. The Leafs captain took a nasty knee to knee blow from Anaheim defenseman Radko Gudas on Thursday. He was assessed a major penalty for kneeing and a game misconduct. Yesterday, Gudas also got a five game suspension for his actions. The Leafs did not offer any response toward Gudas while their captain lay writhing in pain on the ice. That did not sit well with head coach Craig Berube.
The play was indicative of Toronto’s struggling season so far as they find themselves 11 points back of the Boston Bruins for the final playoff spot. Too bad, so sad.
3. Minor Injuries Popping Up
Alex Tuch is probably 50-50 to miss his second straight game for Buffalo. The team clearly missed him in the lineup against Washington. He will probably be a game time decision depending on how he responds to practice/treatment. Hopefully Alex will be ready to go. Mattias Samuelsson’s availability is in question too, as he picked up a minor injury against the Caps. After playing his first game with Buffalo on Thursday, Tanner Pearson is doubtful against Toronto. And just for funsies, Colten Ellis tweaked something in practice, (back spasms again?) so we should see UPL backing up Lyon tonight. At least none of these injuries appear to be too serious.
Zach Metsa was lined up with Rasmus Dahlin in practice yesterday, so he may work his way back into action through injury, not Lindy Ruff’s preference. It should be interesting to track his minutes alongside Buffalo’s Captain if he stays there all game. As of now, it seems the Logan Stanley/Luke Schenn pairing will remain in the bottom 6 role, with Kesslering practicing as an extra on Friday.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Krebs – Thompson – Tuch*
Doan – Norris – Ostlund
Zucker – McLeod – Quinn
Benson – Carrick – Malenstyn
Defense
Samuelsson* – Dahlin
Byram – Power
Stanley – Schenn
Goalies
Lyon, Luukkonen
*Tuch and Samuelsson are questionable. Pearson is questionable too, maybe even doubtful. We should see Metsa and/or Dunne slotted back in if they can’t go. Michael Kesselring looks to sit again unless Lindy decides to swap somebody out.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Forwards
Cowan – Tavares – Nylander
Knies – Lorentz – Domi
Maccelli – Groulx – Robertson
Pezzetta – Quillan – Jarnkrok
Defense
Rielly – Carlo
McCabe – Ekman-Larsson
Benoit – Myers
Goalies
Stolarz, Woll