Preview: Sabres Head North
Buffalo looks to build off Friday’s win against Toronto
Game 27
Buffalo Sabres (12-10-4) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (12-11-4)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST | Scotiabank Arena | Toronto, ON
TV: MSG
Radio: WGR 550
SB Nation Leafs Blog: Pension Plan Puppets
Know Your Opponent
Toronto Maple Leafs
Record: (12-11-4) | 28 PTS
Last 10: 3-6-1
Division Ranking: 4th in Atlantic Division
Conference Ranking: 9th in Eastern Conference
PP: 8th (21.8%)
PK: 18th (79.9%)
What to Watch
1. Leafs Looking for Revenge
The Leafs will undoubtedly be looking for revenge after last night’s loss in Buffalo. On Friday night, the Sabres powered to a 6-4 victory on goals from Jeff Skinner, Jack Eichel (2), Casey Mittelstadt, Victor Olofsson and Jimmy Vesey. As the two teams rematch in Toronto, the Leafs will look to rebound after last night’s loss and pull off a win on home ice.
2. Ullmark Shines, but Hutton Starts
Linus Ullmark played spectacularly in goal last night for the Sabres, but as is typical with back-to-back games, Buffalo will swap goaltenders for this evening. Carter Hutton gets the start between the pipes; Hutton has a 6-5-2 record this season with a 2.91 GAA and .903 save percentage.
Game Prediction
Projected Lineup
Buffalo Sabres (projected)
Forwards
Victor Olofsson - Jack Eichel - Sam Reinhart
Jeff Skinner - Johan Larsson - Conor Sheary
Zemgus Girgensons - Rasmus Asplund - Jean-Sebastien Dea
Casey Mittelstadt - Johan Larsson - Jimmy Vesey
Defense
Brandon Montour - Rasmus Ristolainen
Jake McCabe - Zach Bogosian
Marco Scandella - Henri Jokiharju
Starting Goaltender: Linus Ullmark
Toronto Maple Leafs (projected)
Andreas Johansson - Auston Matthews - William Nylander
Ilya Mikheyev - John Tavares - Zach Hyman
Nic Petan - Jason Spezza - Kasperi Kapanen
Pierre Engvall - Frederik Gauthier - Dmytro Timashov
Defense
Morgan Reilly - Cody Ceci
Jake Muzzin - Justin Holl
Travis Dermott - Tyson Barrie
Starting Goaltender: Frederik Andersen