Game 73

Buffalo Sabres (31-32-9) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (43-25-5)

Puck Drop: 7:00 PM | KeyBank Center| Buffalo, NY

TV: MSG-B

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Leafs blog: Pension Plan Puppets

Know Your Opponent

Toronto Maple Leafs

Record: (43-25-5) | 91 points

Last 10: 4-5-1

Division Ranking: 3rd in the Atlantic Division

Conference Ranking: 4th in the Eastern Conference

PP: 7th (22.8%)

PK: 13th (81.1%)

What to Watch

1. Looking for a streak

We all know the Sabres haven’t won consecutive games in a long time. Well, they’ve got a chance to do just that tonight with a win against Toronto. After being shut out for what felt like forever, the Sabres finally managed to score and then won on Sunday against the St. Louis Blues - after nearing blowing a big lead. Now, they get a big test against a divisional opponent and a huge rival in the Leafs, and on home ice. The Sabres have had a few days of rest, while the Leafs are coming in after being shut out by the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.

2. This is it

Tonight’s game is the final meeting of the regular season between the Sabres and the Leafs. With the Sabres all but technically eliminated from the postseason, it’s likely to be the final time we see these two teams face off until at least September. The Sabres are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games against Toronto and 6-3-1 on home ice, but the Leafs won the most recent matchup between the teams, a 5-2 victory on March 2.

The home team has won 28 of the last 37 games between the Sabres and the Leafs, according to Sabres PR.

3. The Brothers Nylander

Assuming they both play tonight, we’ll get to see Alexander Nylander and William Nylander face off in NHL action for the second time in their careers. The brothers first met on NHL ice back here at KeyBank Center on April 3, 2017. That game was a 4-2 win for the Leafs. Alex recorded 14:28 of ice time, while William played 15:50 and notched an assist.

They were only on the ice together at the same time for a combined 107 seconds.

Projected Lines

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Jeff Skinner - Jack Eichel - Sam Reinhart

Conor Sheary - Evan Rodrigues - Alexander Nylander

Vladimir Sobotka - Casey Mittelstadt - Tage Thompson

Zemgus Girgensons - Johan Larsson - Kyle Okposo

Defense

Zach Bogosian - Rasmus Ristolainen

Rasmus Dahlin - Brandon Montour

Marco Scandella - Casey Nelson

Starting Goaltender (projected): Carter Hutton

Toronto Maple Leafs

Forwards

Zach Hyman - John Tavares - Mitch Marner

Andreas Johnsson - Auston Matthews - William Nylander

Patrick Marleau - Nazem Kadri - Connor Brown

Tyler Ennis - Frederik Gauthier - Trevor Moore

Defense

Morgan Rielly - Ron Hainsey

Jake Muzzin - Nikita Zaitsev

Martin Marincin - Justin Holl

Starting Goaltender (projected): Garrett Sparks