Budsfan
Registered User
- Sep 17, 2006
- 19,218
- 1,365
Monday NHL game preview: Buffalo Sabres at Toronto Maple Leafs
Sam Reinhart and Nazem Kadri high-octane skaters to watch at Air Canada Centre.
Monday NHL game preview: Buffalo Sabres at Toronto Maple Leafs | Toronto Star
Sam Reinhart of the Sabres beats Leafs netminder Frederik Andersen when the teams met in February. The Leafs host the Sabres on Monday night. (Kevin Sousa / KEVIN SOUSA/GETTY IMAGES file photo)
By Mark ZwolinskiSports Reporter
Sun., April 1, 2018
AIR CANADA CENTRE
FACEOFF: 7 p.m.
TV: TSN
RADIO: TSN 1050
KEY PLAYERS
Reinhart/Kadri
Sam Reinhart and the Sabres are coming off their biggest win of the season, 7-4 over the Predators in Nashville on Saturday night. Reinhart had a hat trick against one of the very best teams in the NHL, and scored against the Leafs earlier this season. Leaf Nazem Kadri, who scored against Buffalo last week, enters the night with 31 goals, one off his career high, set last season.
NEED TO KNOW
In Nashville, the Sabres rallied around fallen defenceman Victor Antipin, who was hit from behind by Predators forward Scott Hartnell and suffered a concussion, facial lacerations, a broken nose and dental damage. Hartnell might face a suspension with the playoffs less than two weeks away ... Buffalo scored three power-play goals during Hartnell’s five-minute major (he also drew a game misconduct), two of them by Reinhart. They went 5-for-9 overall on the power play … Buffalo’s Jack Eichel, who had an excellent game against the Leafs last week, picked up five assists in the Nashville contest, tying a franchise record. He has career highs in goals (25), assists (37) and points (62) despite missing 15 games with a sprained ankle … Backup Chad Johnson might get the start in net for Buffalo. He made 39 saves in last week’s 3-2 victory that snapped Toronto’s home win streak at 13.
UP NEXT
Thursday at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
GAME DAY: Sabres at Maple Leafs
Terry KoshanMore from Terry Koshan
GAME DAY: Sabres at Maple Leafs
BUFFALO SABRES at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
7 p.m., Air Canada Centre, TSN, TSN Radio 1050
BIG MATCHUP
Rasmus Ristolainen vs. Auston Matthews
While Sabres defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen has had his run-ins with Maple Leafs centre Nazem Kadri, he was no match for Auston Matthews during 5-on-5 play last Monday. Matthews’ line had numerous scoring chances when Ristolainen was on the ice. The Sabres aren’t exactly deep on the back end, and if Matthews can dominate against Buffalo’s best, Sabres coach Phil Housley doesn’t have many options beyond Ristolainen.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Status of Dermott
The Maple Leafs were to learn more on Sunday about the status of defenceman Travis Dermott, who took a shot off the left leg against Winnipeg and did not return. Dermott has not been around long, playing in 36 games, but any absence would create a large hole. One of Andreas Borgman, Martin Marincin or Calle Rosen likely would be recalled.
2. Mac’s last stand
Barring injury to Frederik Andersen, this will be Curtis McElhinney’s last appearance in the regular season, as coach Mike Babcock said the plan is to start Andersen in the final two games. There’s no award for best backup, but McElhinney would be in the running, considering his .933 save percentage. He is 1-3-0 against the Sabres in his career.
3. Mittelstadt making a case
The Leafs will get their first look at centre Casey Mittelstadt, who will play in his third game with Buffalo after signing last week. Mittelstadt undoubtedly will be a large cog in the Sabres’ rebuild, and could be a thorn in the rivalry with the Leafs for years. With two assists already, wouldn’t it be fitting for Mittelstadt to score his first NHL goal in Toronto?
4. All hail Patrick
When the regular season started, Mike Babcock expected veteran Patrick Marleau to score 20 goals. Instead, Marleau has reached 26, and has an outside shot at giving the Leafs four 30-goal scorers for the first time since 1989-90. Two of Marleau’s past three goals have come on the power-play, giving the Sabres something to think about.
5. Attempting to win
The Leafs have won the Corsi battle in each of their three games against the Sabres, but none better than last Monday, when it was 74-41 for Toronto in 5-on-5 play. The 74 attempts tied the second-most for the Leafs in a game this season, though they will have to come with more concentration than they did in a 3-2 loss.
MAPLE LEAFS LINES
LW-C-RW
Zach Hyman-Auston Matthews-William Nylander
Patrick Marleau-Nazem Kadri-Mitch Marner
James van Riemsdyk-Tyler Bozak-Connor Brown
Leo Komarov-Tomas Plekanec-Kasperi Kapanen
Defence pairs
Morgan Rielly-Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner-Nikita Zaitsev
TBD-Roman Polak/Connor Carrick
Goaltenders
Curtis McElhinney
Frederik Andersen
SABRES LINES
LW-C-RW
Zemgus Girgensons-Jack Eichel-Jason Pominville
Evan Rodrigues-Casey Mittelstadt-Kyle Okposo
Scott Wilson-Ryan O’Reilly-Sam Reinhart
Benoit Pouliot-Johan Larsson-Nick Baptiste
Defence pairs
Marco Scandella-Rasmus Ristolainen
Brendan Guhle-Casey Nelson
Justin Falk-Josh Beaulieu/Josh Gorges
Goaltenders
Chad Johnson
Adam Wilcox
INJURIES
Sabres — D Zack Bogosian (hip), D Jake McCabe (shoulder), D Victor Antipin (concussion), F Jacob Josefson (lower body), G Linus Ullmark (concussion), G Robin Lehner (lower body).
Maple Leafs — D Travis Dermott (leg).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play
Sabres: 18.3% (22nd)
Maple Leafs: 23.8% (3rd)
Penalty kill
Sabres: 78.2% (23rd)
Maple Leafs: 81.8% (11th)
