GDT: Leafs@Sabres 7PM SN

[Budsfan]

Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres gameday
Terry Koshan
Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres gameday

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (43-24-5) at BUFFALO SABRES (31-32-9)
7 p.m., KeyBank Center, Sportsnet, The Fan 590
BIG MATCHUP
William Nylander vs. Alexander Nylander
While it might not be a true matchup per se, you can bet there will be some extra incentive for the Nylander brothers as they face each other for the second time in the National Hockey League and first since April 2017. The Leafs winger is trying to take his game up a notch in the final weeks on a line with Auston Matthews, while the Sabres winger, recalled late in the season for the third year in a row, again is trying to convince Buffalo brass he should have a better handle on the NHL at the age of 21. Big brother William turns 23 in May.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Back-to-back reminders
The Leafs have a mediocre record in the second game of back-to-back sets, going 5-6-0. On paper, the Sabres, who have lost 11 of their past 16 games (including two in regulation in Toronto), should not be much of a challenge, but this is the Leafs we’re talking about, a club that doesn’t like to start on time with much regularity. The Leafs had to travel after playing in Nashville, but the Sabres’ confidence might take a knock if the Leafs manage to make some noise from the opening faceoff. We’re guessing coach Mike Babcock stresses as much.
2. Sparks on tap
Garret Sparks revealed during the Leafs’ recent trip in Western Canada that his first full season in the NHL has been “emotionally taxing” but has indicated since he needs to just worry about doing his job. Sparks has been up and down in 17 appearances, posting a .902 save percentage and a 3.24 goals-against average. If there’s any weariness on the part of his teammates after playing against the Predators, Sparks, who overplays the puck at times, has to buckle down and stop making some fans wish the Leafs hadn’t lost Curtis McElhinney on waivers.
3. Some Kadri bite
Centre Nazem Kadri has played his best hockey for the Leafs when he has an agitating edge, but we have not seen that as commonly during the 2018-19 season as Kadri has had a lesser role playing behind John Tavares and Auston Matthews. Kadri should be having a less stressful time, considering he’s getting third-line matchups. In his past 15 games, Kadri has two goals, and they came on the same night, on Feb. 12 in Colorado. Perhaps Kadri brings a little more jump against a club that is considered a rival and in a building that will be full of Leafs fans.
4. The Eichel effect
Jack Eichel has 12 career goals against the Leafs — including four in three games this season — the most he has against any NHL team. The Leafs have got away with letting Eichel have some production in 2018-19, as they have won each previous game. Still, as much as the Leafs would be wise to keep Eichel in check, the same can be said of Matthews and Buffalo, as the Leafs star has eight goals in 10 career games against the Sabres. Count on the fellow Americans trying to one-up each other in their final meeting of the season.
5. Just win
Time was a visit to Buffalo represented guaranteed-loss night for the Leafs. In the Babcock era, though, the Leafs are 4-3-1 in eight games in the arena now known as the KeyBank Center, including wins in three of their past four visits. We’d say that the Sabres might be driven by pride, but even coming off a home win against St. Louis, this is a group that doesn’t have to be reminded that it has just 10 games to play before it can look ahead to 2019-20. No matter what happened in Nashville, the Leafs should have the advantage.
MAPLE LEAFS LINES
LW-C-RW
Zach Hyman-John Tavares-Mitch Marner
Andreas Johnsson-Auston Matthews-William Nylander
Patrick Marleau-Nazem Kadri-Kasperi Kapanen
Trevor Moore/Tyler Ennis-Nic Petan-Connor Brown
Defence pairs
Morgan Rielly-Ron Hainsey
Jake Muzzin-Nikita Zaitsev
Martin Marincin-Igor Ozhiganov/Justin Holl
Goaltenders
Garret Sparks
Frederik Andersen
SABRES LINES
LW-C-RW
Jeff Skinner-Jack Eichel-Sam Reinhart
Conor Sheary-Evan Rodrigues-Alexander Nylander
Zemgus Girgensons-Johan Larsson-Kyle Okposo
Vladimir Sobotka-Casey Mittelstadt-Tage Thompson
Defence pairs
Zach Bogosian-Rasmus Ristolainen
Rasmus Dahlin-Brandon Montour
Marco Scandella-Casey Nelson
Goaltenders
Carter Hutton
Linus Ullmark
INJURIES
Sabres — D Jake McCabe (upper body).
Maple Leafs — C Frederik Gauthier (foot), D Jake Gardiner (back), D Travis Dermott (shoulder).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play
Sabres: 18% (18th)
Maple Leafs: 23.1% (7th)
Penalty kill
Sabres: 81.5% (9th)
Maple Leafs: 81% (12th)

Wednesday NHL game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres
By Kevin McGranSports Reporter
Tues., March 19, 2019
KEYBANK CENTER
FACEOFF: 7 p.m.
Wednesday NHL game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres | The Star

The Sabres’ Alexander Nylander gets to test himself against brother William on Wednesday in Buffalo. (Rob Marczynski / GETTY IMAGES)


TV: Sportsnet
RADIO: Sportsnet 590 The FAN
KEY PLAYERS
William and Alexander Nylander
The brothers play each other for the first time. Both are former eighth overall picks, William by the Leafs in 2014, Alexander by the Sabres in 2016. William is well-established as a key player on the Maple Leafs. Alex was just recently called up from the minors and is trying to make a name for himself at the NHL level. He had two assists in his last game.
NEED TO KNOW
The Leafs have won all three games against Buffalo this season … The Sabres have been off since beating St. Louis 4-3 in overtime on Sunday. They had lost their previous seven games ... Rookie Rasmus Dahlin has 38 points on the season, tied with Bobby Orr for second-most by an 18-year-old defenceman in NHL history. The leader: Sabres coach Phil Housley, who had 57 points before turning 19 near the end of his rookie season ... Buffalo defenceman Jake McCabe (undisclosed) is day to day ... The Sabres’ power play (18 per cent) was 18th in the league through Monday, the penalty kill eighth (81.5 per cent).
UP NEXT Saturday vs. N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Click to read more...

 

[Jozay]

A win would be nice

 

[ShaneFalco]

Don't even know what to say anymore.....

 

[Warden of the North]

Put in the effort of last night and we win.

But Sparks

 

[Warden of the North]

I for one, eagerly anticipate Sparks throwing himself at a puck going 8 ft wide of the net, then throwing himself back at the crease deflecting the puck, which was also going wide, into the net.

 

[ToneDog]

The last back to back was against the Sens and was a stinker. Logic says expect the same tonight against a better Sabres team (Eichel may be licking his chops). What I am interested in seeing is how they play in front of Sparky.

 

[dosages]

Even if we win here it's against a horrible sabres team that has nothing to play for, if we lose we look even worse.

 

[taurine330]

Time to step up, boys.

 

[ToneDog]

The Sparks fan club may have to go into hiding if Sparks goes under 500 tonight.

 

[ShaneFalco]

The Sparks fan club may have to go into hiding if Sparks goes under 500 tonight.

I think they disbanded

 

[ToneDog]

Anybody else starting to worry that Nylander may not score another goal this season ??, this playoffs ??? or as a Leaf again ???

There it is, Willie should score as early as tonight.

 

[Budsfan]

 

[Cor]

If we lose to f***ing Buffalo

 

[inthe6ix]

oh man i've been trying to be a supporter of sparks all season but it's tough skating uphill

come on garret git'r done

 

[member 262271]

Expectations = nada.

 

[MSZ]

If we lose to ****ing Buffalo

The Leafs have been historically bad in that building (winning % less than .300, although they won the last meeting there) plus Spark will be in net tonight.

I won't put any bets on them for sure.

 

[MyBudJT]

If we lose to ****ing Buffalo

Losing to Ottawa is worse

 

[BrannigansLaw]

If we lose to ****ing Buffalo

We got blown out by the Senators, why would losing to Buffalo be your breaking point?

That being said, I'm not confident at all in any game that Sparks starts.

 

[Eddo22]

Leafs aren't in good enough shape to compete on a back to back especially after like they played last night. Also, who knows how Sparks is going to play?

 

[BrannigansLaw]

I for one, eagerly anticipate Sparks throwing himself at a puck going 8 ft wide of the net, then throwing himself back at the crease deflecting the puck, which was also going wide, into the net.

That and him playing the shooter really deep in his net, giving him the entirety of the goal to shoot at. Both are bound to happen.

 

[Loosie]

Sparks needs to be better tonight after he called out the team for not playing with 'emotion'.

 

[Stringer Bell]

Can someone please tell Nylander to stop trying to pick the corner? The guy is skating great and generating some great shooting opportunities but whistles them over the net EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. Pull a Matthews and decide maybe try to start sending a bullet once and a while along the ice through the five hole. Or even go for the pads to create a rebound. But right now I have no confidence in him not putting it over the net as long as he continues to only shoot high.

 

[Burnie97]

I've tried to stay positive with Sparks but if he stinks tonight... this should be his second last game he ever plays for the Leafs... because you know ... back to backs.

I don't know what to expect from this team right now. A f***ing W would be nice though. The effort was there last night but they still didn't really create a lot. Some credit has to be given to the Preds. They played really solid.

My expectations for this team dropped quite a bit lately. I hope that's a good thing... so come playoffs I won't completely lose it if they're getting smoked by Boston. Which at this point is a good possibilty. I hope I'm surprised.

I think no matter what happens... this team as it is... lives and dies with Andy's play... that... and scoring a pile of goals. Like stated a million times by many... their D is just not good enough.

I hope to god they get Dermott back soon and Rosen is called up. Maybe if our D that's suppose to be good... stopped coughing up pucks... that would also help.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Hutch up soon if Sparks sucks tonight

 

[Trapper]

The last back to back was against the Sens and was a stinker. Logic says expect the same tonight against a better Sabres team (Eichel may be licking his chops). What I am interested in seeing is how they play in front of Sparky.

I think they win tonight. It may not be pretty but something like our Philly win.