Game #10
Buffalo Sabres (2-7-0) at
Toronto Maple Leafs (3-4-1)
Three Questions
1. Whose special teams units will come out on top?
Both teams are dead even in their penalty killing percentage, but the big difference comes on the power play, where the Sabres are still looking for their first goal.
2. Will Michal Neuvirth continue to force the coaches to play him?
Ted Nolan is giving Neuvirth his second straight start, saying, “It’s not like we’ve given up on Jhonas. It’s just the hot goaltender right now, you’ve got to go with him.” Another strong performance might make Neuvirth the short-term starter, and with a still-unproven Enroth ahead of him, that could turn into a longer stint.
3. Are the Cody Hodgson and Marcus Foligno at center experiments over?
Foligno moves back to the wing after playing the pivot in San Jose, while Hodgson will head left in place of Torrey Mitchell. The Sabres Monday practice report says, “Torrey Mitchell moved to center with the hopes that he’ll help Cody Hodgson create more offense.” I’ve re-read that sentence about six times and I’m still not sure if that thought is supposed to be sarcastic, or just plain silly. Still, Hodgson scored his first goal of the year against the Sharks, so even if Mitchell simply helps him create “the same amount of offense he had on Saturday,” that’s a win.
Projected BUF Lineup
Hodgson – Mitchell – Stafford
Goal: Michal Neuvirth