Preview: Sabres look to bounce back against Leafs
Eichel, Ruotsalainen, Ristolainen all expected to play
Preseason Game 4
Buffalo Sabres vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM | KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY
TV: MSG (Sportsnet feed)
Radio: WGR 550
SB Nation Maple Leafs Blog: Pension Plan Puppets
What to Watch
1. Finally, it’s Risto time
Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen is expected to make his preseason debut tonight. Amid speculation of trades, Ristolainen has yet to appear in game action for the Sabres in this preseason. It appears he’ll finally make his way into the lineup for tonight’s game.
2. Cozens & Ruotsalainen, again
Several players who skated in Friday’s 3-0 loss will once again be in the lineup on Saturday. That includes Dylan Cozens, Curtis Lazar, Rasmus Asplund and Arttu Ruotsalainen. They’re all getting another chance to show what they’re capable of, and with more roster cuts likely coming soon, it couldn’t come at a better time.
Expect to see players shift positions tonight, with several players likely to move in & out of the center spots.
Projected Lineup - Sabres
Forwards
Jack Eichel, Jimmy Vesey, Sam Reinhart, Arttu Ruotsalainen, Curtis Lazar, Dylan Cozens, C.J. Smith, Jeff Skinner, Victor Olofsson, Evan Rodrigues, Rasmus Asplund, Marcus Johansson
Defense
Marco Scandella, Casey Nelson, Henri Jokiharju, Rasmus Dahlin, Colin Miller, Rasmus Ristolainen
Goaltenders
Projected Lineup - Leafs
Forwards
Darren Archibald, Nicholas Baptiste, Jeremy Bracco, Adam Brooks, Hudson Elynuik, Pierre Engvall, Frederik Gauthier, Kasperi Kapanen, Egor Korshkov, Mitch Marner, Trevor Moore, Nic Petan, Jason Spezza, John Tavares
Defense
Tyson Barrie, Joseph Duszak, Kevin Gravel, Ben Harpur, Justin Holl, Jesper Lindgren, Jake Muzzin, Jordan Schmaltz
Goaltenders
Michal Neuvirth, Joseph Woll
*Kasimir Kaskisuo was on the expected roster released by the Leafs on Friday, but he was put on waivers on Saturday afternoon.