GDT: Leafs in Buffalo: Part 1 - the Curtain Opens to a Familiar Foe (7:30 TSN4)

[Daisy Jane]

but with no Eichel.
and with no Matty



Budsfan will provide all twitter info per usual (Thanks, Buds)
this is also our only game until saturday. the hell?

Click to read more...

 

[LeafsNation75]

We better get ready to get use to seeing the Sabres since the Leafs play them 3 times this month and 1 time in April.

Now on paper you would think the Leafs should win tonight and obviously I hope they do. Plus Buffalo just traded Evander Kane and with Eichel out let's hope that's a plus for them. Of course since we are missing Matthews who knows and the Leafs history of playing in Buffalo. Although last season they won 2 games in their arena.

 

[Mugzy97]

No reason we shouldn't be able to win this game. We play them 4 times in the calendar month, and should be able to go 3-1 against them at the very LEAST. 3-0-1 or 4-0 would be more ideal.

 

[ToneDog]

Can't get excited about this one or many of the remaining games. If we clock them, they are the Sabres. If they beat us, ho hum who cares. At this point, looking forward to playoff hockey.

 

[Damisoph]

I guess Boston and Florida will use their games in hand on us during this 10 day stretch where we only play 3 games...tonight, Saturday vs. PIT and next Wednesday vs. Dallas.

No Eichel tonight, but playing in Buffalo is always concerning. GLG

 

[Mugzy97]

Can't get excited about this one or many of the remaining games. If we clock them, they are the Sabres. If they beat us, ho hum who cares. At this point, looking forward to playoff hockey.

Nice to finally be a good team eh?

 

[1specter]

Nylander vs Reinhart?

 

[1specter]

but with no Eichel.
and with no Matty



Budsfan will provide all twitter info per usual (Thanks, Buds)
this is also our only game until saturday. the hell?

I believe this is when Boston finally starts losing games in hand on us. Hopefully they hit a losing streak.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Need a win here to keep the possibility of home ice in reach. Boston will have the chance to start putting separation in the standings if the Leafs slump.

 

[1specter]

Need a win here to keep the possibility of home ice in reach. Boston will have the chance to start putting separation in the standings if the Leafs slump.

It's infuriating how they keep winning even though Bergeron is out. I believe McAvoy also got injured against the Habs so we'll see what happens with him.

 

[Gary Nylund]

It's infuriating how they keep winning even though Bergeron is out. I believe McAvoy also got injured against the Habs so we'll see what happens with him.

It is annoying isn't it. After these last few games I'm almost resigned to the fact that we won't be catching them and if they keep it up, we might be facing TB in the first round. Oh well, nothing to do but to keep on keeping on ...

 

[Budsfan]

Monday NHL game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres

Sam Reinhart hottest Sabres for first meeting of season with Leafs.

Monday NHL game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres | Toronto Star

Ryan O’Reilly and the Buffalo Sabres host the Maple Leafs for the first time this season on Monday night. (Icon Sportswire / GETTY IMAGES file photo)


By Kevin McGranSports Reporter
Sun., March 4, 2018

KEYBANK CENTRE
FACEOFF: 7:30 p.m.
TV: TSN4
RADIO: TSN 1050
KEY PLAYERS
Reinhart/Andersen
Buffalo winger Sam Reinhart has 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in his last 20 games ... Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen looks to bounce back after allowing five goals on 25 shots and being pulled from Saturday’s outdoor game against Washington.
NEED TO KNOW
This is their first meeting this season … The Sabres are 5-1-1 in their last seven games against Atlantic Division opponents and 8-7-3 against the division this season … The Sabres have tallied at least one power-play goal in 15 of their last 24 games … Ryan O’Reilly’s 990 faceoff wins and 60.7 faceoff percentage lead the league … Rasmus Ristolainen has 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) in his last 28 games dating back to Dec. 29, seventh-most among defencemen in that span … The Sabres are expected to be without defencemen Zach Bogosian (lower body) and Jake McCabe (shoulder) and centre Jack Eichel (high ankle sprain). They called up defenceman Brendan Guhle from Rochester of the AHL on Sunday.
UP NEXT
Saturday vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.

Game Day: Maple Leafs at Sabres
Terry KoshanMore from Terry Koshan

Game Day: Maple Leafs at Sabres

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS at BUFFALO SABRES
Monday, 7:30 p.m., KeyBank Center
TV: TSN4, Radio: 1050 AM
THE BIG MATCHUP
William Nylander vs. Sam Reinhart
Under a different management regime at the 2014 NHL draft, the Sabres passed on Nylander (among others) to pick Reinhart second overall. Nylander went eighth to the Leafs and has been the better player, recording 123 points in 170 career games. Reinhart has one more point than Nylander — in 232 games. Each player is a piece of what his team is in the standings today, though for much different reasons.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
On to the next one
The Leafs were eager to forget about their measly effort against Washington, but they have to back those words up. “It’s regroup time,” coach Mike Babcock said. “We have a Buffalo team that would be sick and tired about hearing about the Leafs. They’re going to play hard and we have to be ready to play hard. We have to get back on track.”
Strengthen the kill
After killing off all four penalties in the trip opener against Tampa Bay, the Leafs gave up a power-play goal in Florida and the Capitals then scored on both of their chances. Expect a tighter Toronto effort. “We thought we had done a good job to set up our penalty kill,” Babcock said. “In the end, we didn’t do one thing we wanted to do.”
Get it right first
The Leafs haven’t had much success in the Sabres’ home, but have gone 2-2-1 under Babcock. Toronto should be buoyed by a large contingent of fans, and also might consider it has scored 73 first-period goals (tied for the most in the NHL before Sunday) while the Sabres have an NHL-low 33. A good start plays in the Leafs’ favour.
Backup blues
Frederik Andersen will assume his spot in the Leafs net after he was pulled versus the Capitals, while the Sabres will counter with backup Chad Johnson, who has been sharp against the Leafs in his career: Johnson has a 5-1-1 record with a .932 save percentage. Against Buffalo, Andersen is 7-1-0 with a similar .932 save percentage.
JVR on point
It’s probable Johnson will have to contend with Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk, whose ability to tip pucks and get his body in the crease area without causing goalie interference can be maddening. Versus the Sabres, van Riemsdyk has had production, scoring 11 goals in 28 games including four winners, his most against any team.
MAPLE LEAFS LINES
LW-C-RW
Patrick Marleau-Nazem Kadri-Mitch Marner
Zach Hyman-William Nylander-Connor Brown
James van Riemsdyk-Tyler Bozak-Kasperi Kapanen
Dominic Moore/Matt Martin-Tomas Plekanec-Leo Komarov
Defence pairs
Morgan Rielly-Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner-Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott-Connor Carrick
Goaltenders
Frederik Andersen
Curtis McElhinney
SABRES LINES
Zemgus Girgensons-Ryan O’Reilly-Sam Reinhart
Scott Wilson-Johan Larsson-Jason Pominville
Seth Griffith-Benoit Pouliot/Kyle Criscuolo-Nicholas Baptiste
Jordan Nolan-Jacob Josefson-Kyle Okposo
Defence pairs
Marco Scandella-Rasmus Ristolainen
Victor Antipin-Casey Nelson
Justin Falk/Brendan Guhle-Nathan Beaulieu
Goaltenders
Chad Johnson
Robin Lehner
INJURIES
Maple Leafs — C Auston Matthews (shoulder).
Sabres — C Jack Eichel (ankle), D Zach Bogosian (hip), D Jake McCabe (shoulder), C Evan Rodrigues (upper body).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play
Maple Leafs: 20.1% (16th)
Sabres: 17.2% (25th)
Penalty kill
Maple Leafs: 82.7% (8th)
Sabres: 79.7% (19th)

 

[ACC1224]

I haven't been paying much attention in the last week or so, any update on Matthews return?

 

[SprDaVE]

I haven't been paying much attention in the last week or so, any update on Matthews return?

No.

 

[Clark4Ever]

I like the lines Babs is running. Hopefully they pan out until Matthews is back.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Better get Carrick back in there over Polak.

 

[tom leafers]

It is annoying isn't it. After these last few games I'm almost resigned to the fact that we won't be catching them and if they keep it up, we might be facing TB in the first round. Oh well, nothing to do but to keep on keeping on ...

Tampa looks like theyre back to themselves. And with Bostons brutal schedule starting, i honestly give them about a 3% chance of passing Tampa.

 

[ToneDog]

Nice to finally be a good team eh?

We've had a number of good teams in the past 50+ years but only a couple that had a serious shot at the SC. This one is trending to be the one that breaks the Big M's curse.

 

[SprDaVE]

After that embarrassment on Saturday, I fully expect a great game from the Leafs. Maybe we get unlucky and we lose, but overall I think we need a big game against a bad team.

 

[GardinerTheForward]

"Alright Leafs, gotta beat down Buffalo to send a message to Florida that they ain't catching us.
(turns to other dressing room)
Also Buffalo, it helps your tank...you better not play any games with us." *shakes fist*

 

[hfman]

We better get ready to get use to seeing the Sabres since the Leafs play them 3 times this month and 1 time in April.

Now on paper you would think the Leafs should win tonight and obviously I hope they do. Plus Buffalo just traded Evander Kane and with Eichel out let's hope that's a plus for them. Of course since we are missing Matthews who knows and the Leafs history of playing in Buffalo. Although last season they won 2 games in their arena.

Leafs are 29-71 all time in Buffalo's arena.

Yes, that's just 29 wins, and 71 losses dating way back to 1970-ish. A bewildering statistic.

So yeah. If you play proline then you pick Buffalo.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Tampa looks like theyre back to themselves. And with Bostons brutal schedule starting, i honestly give them about a 3% chance of passing Tampa.

3% is almost certainly too low. 5 points behind, 2 games in hand. 19 games to play vs TB's 17. That's a pretty small sample size and their schedule's not THAT bad.

 

[al secord]

Leafs are 29-71 all time in Buffalo's arena.

Yes, that's just 29 wins, and 71 losses dating way back to 1970-ish. A bewildering statistic.

So yeah. If you play proline then you pick Buffalo.

Thank god we're playing hockey.

 

[PuckMagi]

Leafs are 29-71 all time in Buffalo's arena.

Yes, that's just 29 wins, and 71 losses dating way back to 1970-ish. A bewildering statistic.

So yeah. If you play proline then you pick Buffalo.

If you play proline, then you're just donating to the government and you're not really a sports gambler.

Get an online account and get real odds rather than just throwing your money away.

 

[Mugzy97]

Leafs are 29-71 all time in Buffalo's arena.

Yes, that's just 29 wins, and 71 losses dating way back to 1970-ish. A bewildering statistic.

So yeah. If you play proline then you pick Buffalo.

Bad advice since historical stats have nothing to do with current events.