The Buffalo Sabres prevailed with a 4-3 overtime win in last night’s tilt against the Pittsburgh Penguins, banking two crucial points to hold on to their slimming chances of a playoff berth. Tonight, the Sabres face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs for the second time in a week, losing the first matchup 5-3.
Season series: This is the third of four meetings between the Sabres and Leafs this season. The Leafs lead the series, 2-0, after Buffalo came up just short of a comeback in their last meeting this past Monday. The fourth and final meeting between these two teams will take place in just over a couple of weeks, on March 20th in Buffalo.
Buffalo notes: Despite being outshot by Pittsburgh last night 44-30, Buffalo managed to seal the win thanks to a pair of goals from Conor Sheary, one from Jack Eichel, and Brandon Montour’s first tally in a Sabres uniform.
Eichel comes into tonight’s game riding a seven-game point streak, tying his season-long streak from earlier this season. Other notable Sabres players to watch are Conor Sheary, who has tallied five points in his last four games, and Jeff Skinner, who has notched 12 in his last 14 games.
Opponent notes: The Toronto Maple Leafs should be expected to come out swinging to start tonight’s game after a 6-1 rout by the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum in John Tavares’ first visit back to the Island.
Tavares and company will look to get back in the win column, but they’ll have to do it without the help of Nazem Kadri, who is expected to be out with injury for another game.
Frederik Andersen is set to go between the pipes for Toronto in tonight’s game. Andersen has won each of his last three starts for the Leafs and has a 2.59 GAA and .923 SV% on the season.