With just a pair of victories in the past ten games, it’s obvious that the Sabres need to get something going as they start the second half of the season.
Buffalo are in the exact same spot they were last year, and it took an improbable run to end the year and make the playoffs.
Now, the Sabres are five points out of the 8th spot behind Pittsburgh, and six behind the 7th placed Maple Leafs.
The Sabres have already played Toronto twice this season, with each team winning on their home ice. Both games were decided by one goal, and tonight is the first of a home and home set against the Leafs.
Toronto have won three straight at the Air Canada Centre and will look to extend that streak tonight.
While the Leafs are attempting to keep that streak alive, the Sabres are aiming to end one of their own – six consecutive losses away from home.
“To lose six in a row on the road … our road play has been very disappointing,” Ruff said. “We’ve got to start winning on the road. I think that’s where the biggest damage is going to come from. You’re going to have to play your system real solid, get great goaltending, it’s going to be a lot of little things.”
The Sabres are not only having problems scoring, but the goaltending has become an issue as well.
“It’s tough to win a game with one goal,” said Enroth, who made 39 saves Saturday but fell to 0-4-2 in his last six outings. Miller, who Ruff said would start Tuesday, is scarcely an improvement, with a 2-5-0 record and 3.38 goals-against average since making 28 saves in the Sabres’ 5-4 win over Toronto on Dec. 16.
Tonight’s faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.