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GAME DAY: Maple Leafs at Sabres
Terry KoshanMore from Terry Koshan
GAME DAY: Maple Leafs at Sabres
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS at BUFFALO SABRES
Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., KeyBank Center,
TV: TSN, Radio: 590 AM
THE BIG MATCHUP
Auston Matthews vs. Jack Eichel
If National Hockey League players are able to participate in the Olympics again one day, Matthews and Eichel will be forefront for the United States. For now, the two will be centrepieces in the renewed rivalry between the Leafs and Sabres, as both clubs are good again. Each has done well against the opposing team: Matthews has five goals and two assists in seven career games versus Buffalo while Eichel, the Sabres’ leading scorer, has six goals and five assists in nine career games verses Toronto.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Buffalo is back
We all figured the Sabres would take steps forward in 2018-19, considering their youth and depth. But to be among the teams, along with the Leafs, battling for first overall in the NHL early in December? Not a chance. Mike Babcock, not surprisingly, likes that Buffalo is a challenge once more. “Good for them,” Babcock said. “They have done a good job, they have real good players and are an exciting team to watch. We look forward to playing them.”
2. SKINNER!!!
The Leafs have their goal machine in Auston Matthews, who carries 13 goals in 13 games into the match. For the Sabres, it’s Jeff Skinner, who had 20 goals in 27 games through the weekend (and remember Skinner didn’t score in the Sabres’ first four games). Only Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine, with 21 goals, had more. Skinner has just six goals in 24 career games against the Leafs, all with Carolina, but that won’t matter. The Leafs won’t have any choice but to be cautious when Skinner is on the ice.
3. Hello, Rasmus
The Leafs will get their first look at defenceman Rasmus Dahlin, a franchise-type player who should be a headache for Toronto for years to come. While the Leafs will try to pressure the 18-year-old, it’s likely Dahlin gets rattled. Not only has the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NHL draft been one of the Sabres’ best possession players at five-on-five (51.2%), he had 14 points in 27 games prior to Monday. Dahlin is fun to watch; just not on Tuesday, from the Leafs’ perspective.
4. Kapanen a road warrior
Kasperi Kapanen, in all likelihood, will be bumped down the lineup once William Nylander returns, but it won’t be because Kapanen has done anything wrong. The 22-year-old has been burning opposing defencemen with his speed, and that should be a factor in his favour again in Buffalo. Of Kapanen’s 18 points, 13 have come on the road. Kapanen doesn’t have a point in five career games against the Sabres, but there’s a good chance that changes.
5. Rest crucial
The Leafs? Rested. The Sabres? Not so much, certainly not after playing against the bruising Predators in Nashville on Monday night. So it’s on the shoulders of the Leafs to start on time, though that has not necessarily been a problem on the road. Keep in mind the Sabres are a difficult team to put away, considering they had five wins when trailing after the second period, the second-most in the NHL prior to games on Monday. Also, the Leafs are 14-0-0 when leading after two.
MAPLE LEAFS LINES
LW-C-RW
Patrick Marleau-Auston Matthews-Kasperi Kapanen
Zach Hyman-John Tavares-Mitch Marner
Par Lindholm-Nazem Kadri-Connor Brown
Tyler Ennis-Frederik Gauthier-Andreas Johnsson
Defence pairs
Morgan Rielly-Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner-Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott-Igor Ozhiganov
Goaltenders
Frederik Andersen
Garret Sparks
SABRES LINES
LW-C-RW
Jeff Skinner-Jack Eichel-Sam Reinhart
Tage Thompson-Casey Mittelstadt-Kyle Okposo
Remi Elie/Conor Sheary-Vladimir Sobotka-Evan Rodrigues
Patrik Berglund-Johan Larsson-Zemgus Girgensons
Defence pairs
Lawrence Pilut-Rasmus Ristolainen
Rasmus Dahlin-Zach Bogosian
Nathan Beaulieu-Casey Nelson
Goaltenders
Carter Hutton
Linus Ullmark
INJURIES
Sabres — D Matt Hunwick (neck), F Scott Wilson (ankle), D Marco Scandella (undisclosed), D Jake McCabe (undisclosed), F Jason Pominville (undisclosed).
Maple Leafs — None.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play
Sabres 19.5% (16th)
Maple Leafs: 29% (3rd)
Penalty kill
Sabres 80.3% (12th)
Maple Leafs: 79.1% (16th)
