Thursday game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres
Can we expect a rematch between Sabres defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen and Leafs centre Nazem Kadri?
Thursday game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres | Toronto Star
Buffalo’s Rasmus Ristolainen the Leafs’ Nazem Kadri dropped their gloves earlier this month. (Jeffrey T. Barnes / The Associated Press)
By
Kevin McGranSports Reporter
Wed., March 14, 2018
KEYBANK CENTRE
FACEOFF: 7 p.m.
TV: TSN 4
RADIO: Sportsnet 590 The FAN
KEY PLAYERS
Ristolainen/Kadri
Sabres defenceman
Rasmus Ristolainen promised a rematch with
Nazem Kadri after the two got into a fight in Buffalo's 5-3 win over Toronto earlier this month. Ristolainen had two assists against the Leafs that game, but has been held pointless in the three games since. Kadri was minus-3 against Buffalo, but bounced back with two goals against Pittsburgh.
NEED TO KNOW
The Sabres are coming off a five-day break … With an eye to the future, the Sabres called up goalie
Linus Ullmark from the AHL even though regular goalies
Robin Lehner (a pending restricted free agent) and
Chad Johnson (a pending unrestricted free agent) are healthy. Ullmark, who has a 2.44 goals-against average and .923 save percentage with Rochester, turned aside 44 of 45 shots in a January start with the Sabres ...
Jack Eichel (high ankle sprain) has missed 14 games and is practising, but is not likely to play Thursday. The Sabres are 6-6-2 without Eichel … Forwards
Seth Griffith (upper body) and
Evan Rodrigues (ribs) returned to practice fully on Tuesday and might play Thursday night.
Kyle Okposo (concussion) and
Kyle Criscuolo (shoulder) remain out.
UP NEXT
Saturday, vs. Montreal, 7 p.m.
Game Day: Maple Leafs at Sabres
Lance HornbyMore from Lance Hornby
Game Day: Maple Leafs at Sabres
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS at BUFFALO SABRES
Thursday, 7 p.m., KeyBank Center
TV: TSN4; Radio: 590 AM
THE BIG MATCHUP
RW Ryan O’Reilly vs. G Curtis McElhinney
O’Reilly seemed to be everywhere last week when the Sabres sprang to life and beat the Leafs 5-3. The Sabres had a few fortuitous bounces, one off the referee’s skate to O’Reilly as Toronto looked disinterested at times at the end of an 0-4 road trip. McElhinney, solid in the second of back-to-back games all year, goes for his eighth win, but has yet to beat Buffalo (0-3-0-0).
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
The Leafs played against Dallas on Wednesday, while Buffalo has had a long layoff. The Sabres always get extra pep when all those blue and white sweaters show up in the stands, and the last loss dropped Toronto’s record in these parts to 29-64-6-6. Buffalo has also managed to play .500 hockey within the division.
LINEUP FLEXIBILITY
Star Sabre Jack Eichel is practising this week after a month off with a high ankle sprain, but is not playing. Calling up Andreas Johnsson for Wednesday’s game means the Leafs can go back to the Swede or reinstate Matt Martin or Josh Leivo. The Sabres also summoned 6-foot-4 forward Justin Bailey on Wednesday.
CENTRES OF ATTENTION
With signs pointing to Auston Matthews coming back in the next few days from a shoulder injury, this could be the last spin in the middle for William Nylander the next while, while Mitch Marner and Leo Komarov will be moved around later as well. The experience has been a good one.
HANG ON
It’s a subjective stat rink-to-rink, but Buffalo being credited with almost less than half the giveaways Leafs do has a ring of truth about it.
SHOOT OUT SURETY
If they encounter the usual resistance from Buffalo, but can force the game to overtime and beyond, the Leafs are tied for the NHL lead with six shootout wins. Buffalo has just one, though it has only been in three such matches this season.
MAPLE LEAFS GAME DAY LINES
LW C RW
Zach Hyman William Nylander Mitch Marner
Patrick Marleau Nazem Kadri Leo Komarov
James van Riemsdyk Tyler Bozak Connor Brown
Andreas Johnsson Tomas Plekanec Kasperi Kapanen
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Morgan Rielly Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner Roman Polak
Travis Dermott Connor Carrick
GOALIES
Curtis McElhinney
Frederik Andersen
SICK BAY
C Auston Matthews
D Nikita Zaitsev
SABRES GAME DAY LINES
LW C RW
Scott Wilson Ryan O’Reilly Sam Reinhart
Benoit Pouliot Johan Larsson Jason Pominville
Zemgus Girgensons Evan Rodrigues N. Baptiste/S. Griffith
Jordan Nolan Jacob Josefson Justin Bailey
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Marco Scandella Rasmus Ristolainen
Brendan Guhle Casey Nelson
Nathan Beaulieu Victor Antipin
GOALIES
Robin Lehner
Chad Johnson/Linus Ullmark
SICK BAY
D Zach Bogosian
D Jake McCabe
F Kyle Okposo
SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY
Toronto 21.8% (6th)
Buffalo 16.8% (27th)
PENALTY KILLING
Toronto 82.7% (6th)
Buffalo 79.2% (21st)