Mike Cassese, REUTERS
The Toronto Maple Leafs, riding a perfect 4-0 record in the calendar year of 2012, will be looking to continue their winning ways tonight against the Sabres. It won’t be easy, however, as the travels down the QEW haven’t been kind to the blue and white historically.
The Storyline
As mentioned, the Leafs are undefeated in the first four games of the new year, a run that includes a big 2-0 win over these same Sabres earlier this week.
A team that polarized pundits in the pre season prediction department, the Leafs currently sit seventh in the Eastern Conference standings with 49 points. A win tonight could move them up to sixth. In their last ten games, the Maple Leafs are 6-2-2.
Their record on the road, however, is 10-10-1, a stat that is even more troubling when you consider the struggles they’ve had in Buffalo throughout the years.
The Sabres, meanwhile, currently sit on the outside looking in on the Eastern Conference playoff picture. They sit back in 11th place with 41 points on the season. The Sabres and Leafs are currently teams going in opposite directions, which is clearly indicated by their record in the last ten games. For their part, the Sabres are just 2-6-2.
The Maple Leafs are one of only four teams in the top eight in the East with a plus goal differential (New York, Boston, and Philadelphia being the others.) The Leafs are plus 4 in the goal differential department, while the Sabres sit at minus 16.
Hot Players/Players To Watch
Toronto
Nikolai Kulemin: The russian winger hasn’t exactly had a great follow up to his break out season last year, but there are signs that things may be turning around for Kulemin. He had two points against the Sabres on Tuesday (1g, 1a) and was a physical force on the ice each and every shift. Kulemin has three points in his last three games.
Dion Phaneuf: For a supposedly overrated player, Phaneuf is having quite the year for the Leafs. The captain has showed good defensive skill, while providing offensive output for the club. He has 28 points in 42 games, and has shown toughness and leadership as well. Phaneuf has 6 points in his last 5 games.
Jonas Gustavsson: Ron Wilson has given indications that he will start “The Monster” in back-to-back games this weekend, and why not? The Leafs have started the new year off hot, and the Swedish goaltender is a big reason for that. Gustavsson looks to have regained his confidence between the pipes. In his last three games he has a goals against of just 1.01, with a save percentage of .969 to go with it.
Other notables: Phil Kessel (23 points in last 23 games), Joffrey Lupul (7 points in last 4 games), Mikhail Grabovski (5 points in last 4 games), Carl Gunnarsson (4 points in last 5 games)
Buffalo
Jason Pominville: Pominville has been a bright spot for the Sabres this season, leading the team in points. A fast skating forward who is on pace for 83 points, Pominville is always a threat to go for a goal. He has 16 points in his last 16 games.
Ryan Miller: Yes, Miller has struggled this season to the point that a local paper has taken to calling him “Miller Lite.” Still, Miller is a goalie that can steal a game at anytime with big saves and steady play. He is 0-2-0 in his last two games, but sports a .919 save percentage in those contests.
Thomas Vanek: He doesn’t have any points in his last two games, but Vanek is one of the few Sabres forwards this season that seems to be bringing his A game, or certainly close to it. Vanek has 19 goals on the year, and sits at 40 points, which puts him on pace for 37 goals and 77 points, a point total that would be the second highest of his career should he reach the mark.
Other notables: Jhonas Enroth (1.90 save percentage, .954 goals against in his last two starts, both losses).
The goalie Match-up
As mentioned above, Gustavsson will get the start for the Leafs tonight, and is likely to get it tomorrow against the Rangers as well. After starting the season on a bad note and looking every bit like a goalie who had lost confidence in himself, Gustavsson has rebounded nicely on the season. He is 13-7-0 on the season, and is slowly starting to lower his goals against (2.91) and raise his save percentage (.908).
The Sabres haven’t announced who will start yet tonight, but have two viable options. Despite Ryan Miller having the worst season of his career, he has good numbers against the Leafs (25-13-0 against Toronto, with a 2.35 goals against). Jhonas Enroth, on the other hand, has been solid for most of the year, and has forced the Sabres staff to play him nearly as much as Miller.
Injuries
Leafs: Tyler Bozak (shoulder), Colby Armstrong(concussion like symptoms),
Sabres: Thomas Vanek*(upper body), Derek Roy* (arm), Andrej Sekara (upper body), Tyler Ennis (ankle), Christian Ehrhoff (upper body)
*Questionable for tonight’s game
Keys To The Game:
The Toronto Maple Leafs come into Buffalo tonight riding a winning streak, a streak that includes a win over these very Sabres. The Sabres are a depleted bunch, and while games in this city have never been easy for the blue and white, they must take advantage of a wounded foe.
The Leafs will tonight, as always, have a strong contingent of Leafs Nation on hand to see the game. Between that, and Buffalo playing with a depleted roster, it will be interesting to see if the Sabres approach the opening period of this game almost like a road game, playing safe and cautious.
The Sabres have to be a team lacking confidence right now, and the Leafs should do their best to get themselves on the scoreboard early tonight, and hope to get the Sabres behind the eight ball.
