The Buffalo Sabres look to extend their winning streak to three games on the back end of a home at home series with Toronto on the road. The Sabres won in the First Niagara Center last night against the rival Leafs by a score of 3-1, and now look to sweep the series in the Air Canada Centre.
The talk of town has been the removal of GM Darcy Regier and head coach Ron Rolston and the reinstatement of Ted Nolan, a past head coach of the team, as well as the naming Pat Lafontaine head of hockey operations. Last night was the first game under the new leadership.
The league got a good look at the reinvigorated Buffalo Sabres in their home tilt against the superior Toronto Maple Leafs. While the lineup hadn’t changed much except the addition of enforcer John Scott, the home town team played like a different group. Interim coach Ted Nolan promised a new level of compete in the team and that effort was evident.
Most notable was the effort of players fans have ripped for being ineffective and lazy in the current system such as Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford, and Ville Leino who all had a jump in their step last night. Myers especially had a positive impact all over the ice, tough down low defensively and creating chances in the offensive zone.
The team as a whole played great defensively, getting in the shot lanes and keeping chances to the outside. Also important was the hustle and effort the Sabres displayed. The wingers were fast along the wall and the Sabres were winning little battles all over the ice.
The Sabres find themselves in a rare position going into tonight’s matchup, they have the chance to actually extend a win streak. The Leafs however are having a promising season and the ACC is never an easy place to play in. The Leafs are 6-2-0 this year at home and the Sabres are 3-7 on the road. The Buffalo Sabres need to bring the same energy and complete level that they showed last night in order to grab another two points.
The fan base in Buffalo has been energized as the home town crowd was electric. The team still looked young but the team had passion, something they didn’t have this season as last. The next test for Nolan and the Sabres happens tonight.
Buffalo will also face off against new Maple Leaf Peter Holland, who was just acquired from the Anaheim Ducks this morning.
The puck drops at 7 PM and will be aired on MSG, as well as CBC.