The Buffalo Sabres are coming in to Toronto having won three of their last four games, but they’ve also had three of their last four days off. The Maple Leafs have also had time off, but will their mind be more on their division rivals coming to town, or on the 2014 Winter Classic versus Detroit in just a few days?
The Sabres silently sent Johan Larsson back to the Amerks by way of Europe (thanks to the Spengler Cup) so John Scott will likely keep his spot in the lineup – well, that and he’s a power play specialist these days. The four players who missed the team’s last game with the flu are also expected to return, which means Sabres fans will get another chance to see new forward Linus Omark try to make his, uh, mark in blue and gold.
On the Leafs side of things, Dave Bolland, Tyler Bozak, and Trevor Smith are all on injured reserve, while Jonathan Bernier is expected to go for them in net.
Game #38
Buffalo Sabres(10-24-3) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (18-16-5)
Puck Drop – 7:30pm EST – Air Canada Centre – Toronto, ON
TV – MSG, TSN | Radio – WGR 550-AM
SBNation Leafs Blog – Pension Plan Puppets
Three Questions
1. Christian Ehrhoff has 13 points in his last 13 games against Toronto. Will it continue?
Now that Thomas Vanek is gone, the Sabres must always have somebody who’s a point-per-game player versus the Leafs.
2. How will the special teams units stack up?
Toronto comes in to tonight’s game with the 4th best power play unit in the NHL, but just the 26th best penalty kill. The Sabres have a terrible power play and an average penalty kill, ranking 18th and 19th, respectively.
3. Where for art thou, Linus Omark?
Since being traded to the Sabres, Omark has been a non-factor on the ice, and was home sick for the team’s last game. Buffalo is still waiting for their newest player to make an impact.
Projected BUF Lines
Matt Moulson – Tyler Ennis – Zemgus Girgensons
Ville Leino – Steve Ott – Drew Stafford
Linus Omark – Marcus Foligno – Matt D’Agostini
John Scott – Brian Flynn – Matt Ellis
Christian Ehrhoff – Alex Sulzer
Henrik Tallinder – Tyler Myers
Jamie McBain – Mark Pysyk
Goal: Ryan Miller
Scratches/Injuries: Weber, Porter, McCormick, Hodgson