Toronto Maple Leafs @ Buffalo Sabres
07:00 PM at KeyBank Center
Watch on: ESPN+, HULU, SNO

The Leafs last game was away on December 18 against the Dallas Stars, which Toronto won by a score of 5-3 in regulation. The Leafs have a record of 20-10-2 for a 0.656 Points %.

The Buffalo Sabres last played away on December 17 against the Montréal Canadiens. The Sabres lost by a score of 6-1 in regulation, and their current league record is 11-17-4 for a 0.406 Points %.

Them

They are not in a good mood. That loss to Montréal right after the corporate pep talk was possibly the most embarrassing game ever played that didn't involve the words Zamboni driver.

They have not improved since the last game against the Leafs which was a bizarre drubbing where the Leafs didn't really play a very good game and scored a pile of goals anyway. They haven't actually gotten worse either but possibly more emotional, and now there's trade rumours and speculation about everyone on the team.

The latest report from Insider Trading on TSN indicated that there's offers on the table to the Sabres, but the return isn't satisfying to GM Kevyn Adams so no move was made before the roster freeze. This seems to me like the time to consider that adage everyone around here seems to hate. If you have time, use it. Why should the Sabres make a big or even a small move right now? Give it a while to settle down. Meanwhile... they do bring their A game to play the Leafs at home.

Last game, the Sabres put Devon Levi in net, which was part of the reason for the Leafs' goal festival. He's back in the AHL, so it's likely Ukka Pekka Luukkonen will be back in net. He started the debacle in Montréal, and James Reimer came in for the third period.

Meanwhile Jordan Greenway is out for some time, and requires surgery, Ryan McLeod was listed as questionable for today's game, and Rasmus Dahlin will likely return to the lineup.

Lines

Sabres website, from yesterday's practice.

Jason Zucker - Tage Thompson - Alex Tuch
JJ Peterka - Dylan Cozens - Jack Quinn
Zach Benson - Peyton Krebs - Jiri Kulich
Beck Malenstyn - Ryan McLeod - Nicolas Aubé-Kubel

Rasmus Dahlin - Bowen Byram
Mattias Samuelsson - Owen Power
Dennis Gilbert - Connor Clifton

Ukka Pekka Luukkonen
James Reimer

Us

"The most expensive line in hockey" survived all of the game in Dallas, much to my surprise. While stylistically Matt Knies can play well with John Tavares and Max Bruiser Pacioretty, there is some question of how that will affect goal-scoring. Is that too many people wanting to be at the net? Regardless, I don't think that arrangement is a long term plan.

Auston Matthews did not participate in morning skate, but is expected to play.

Meanwhile that third line isn't getting touched until they show they can't handle the opposition. Ryan Reaves was the extra on the fourth line today.

The real question today is goalies. Matt Murray comes up and Dennis Hildeby returns to the AHL. With two games back-to-back – so unusual to see that – the Leafs have to pick which game is Murray's debut this season.

As for the eventual waivers issue with Murray, he can play 9 games in the NHL and not require waivers. If he plays 10, they he will. Given the length of time Stolarz is set to be out, that could be doable. The Leafs play 25 games, counting today before the Four Nations break in February. If Murray is on emergency recall – which he will be – there is not 29 days counter that applies.

Who plays tonight? Joe Woll was not at morning skate, but will dress for the game, per reports.

Lines

From the full morning skate in Buffalo with the defence pairs from yesterday's practice making a reappearance.

William Nylander - Auston Matthews - Mitch Marner
Matthew Knies - John Tavares - Max Pacioretty
Bobby McMann - Max Domi - Nicholas Robertson
Pontus Holmberg - David Kämpf - Steven Lorentz

Morgan Rielly - Conor Timmins
Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit - Jake McCabe

Joe Woll
Matt Murray - starter

The Game

I expect the Sabres to have come down off the high of the Montréal festival of despair. So will they be just dully bad or will they rebound and be grittily determined to play some hockey? Because there's some very good players on that team and a goalie with things to prove. I don't think this is going to be Auston Matthews scores four to top Patrik Laine time.

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