Sabres, Leafs have star players back for latest encounter
There will be a pair of new faces in the lineups when Buffalo and Toronto renew hostilities for the third time this season on Tuesday.
Neither Toronto’s Mitch Marner, the Leafs’ most electrifying winger, nor Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin, the Sabres’ top young defenceman, were in their team’s respective lineup because of injuries when the clubs split a back-to-back set in late November.
Marner has fit in seamlessly again with John Tavares and Zach Hyman, recording seven points in his past four games, while Dahlin has had a point in each of his two games since returning. Each brings a unique element.
Here are five things to watch for when Buffalo (16-11-7) lines up against the Leafs (16-14-4) in Toronto:
1. The Eichel effect
No NHL player this season has enjoyed the kind of run Sabres centre Jack Eichel is on — a 16-game point streak that includes 15 goals and 14 assists. Part of Eichel’s prolonged spurt was four points in the back-toback set against the Leafs a few weeks ago, bringing his career total to 20 points in 15 games versus Toronto. As much as the Leafs will be aware of Eichel on each shift, it’s unlikely to be enough.
2. Fixate on the six
While the Leafs’ third line of Alex Kerfoot between Pierre Engvall and Frederik Gauthier has jelled fast, there’s no point in arguing with the talent Toronto has on its top two lines. Sabres coach Ralph Krueger knows.
“With Marner back, they’re a better team and a different team,” Krueger said.
3. The home front
After putting some pep back in their step with three wins in four games on their Western trip, the Leafs play three of their next four games at home, where they have lost just four times in regulation in 15 games. Auston Matthews is close to a goal-a-game clip at Scotiabank Arena with 13, while Marner has 13 points in 13 home games. A Sabres win would put Buffalo five points ahead of Toronto. Matthews and Co. can’t let that happen.
4. Ring the bell
One area of improvement for the Leafs since Sheldon Keefe relieved the fired Mike Babcock has been in starting properly from the opening faceoff. It had become assumed with Babcock as coach that the Leafs would fall behind 1-0, but Keefe’s Leafs have had more energy from the outset.
That could help against a Sabres team that has given up 35 first-period goals, tied for second-most through Sunday.
5. V is for Victor
While the Leafs are bound to have their hands full with Eichel, they certainly can’t look past his linemate, rookie Victor Olofsson. Through NHL play on Sunday, Olofsson led the league’s freshmen with 14 goals and 30 points. Taken by the Sabres with the first pick of the final round in 2014, Olofsson is sound positionally.