Game day: Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres

KEYBANK CENTRE

FACEOFF: 7 p.m. TV: TSN 4 RADIO: Sportsnet 590 The FAN

KEY PLAYERS

Ristolainen/Kadri Sabres defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen promised a rematch with Nazem Kadri after the two got into a fight in Buffalo's 5-3 win over Toronto earlier this month. Ristolainen had two assists against the Leafs that game, but has been held pointless in the three games since. Kadri was minus-3 against Buffalo, but bounced back with two goals against Pittsburgh.

NEED TO KNOW

The Sabres are coming off a five-day break … With an eye to the future, the Sabres called up goalie Linus Ullmark from the AHL even though regular goalies Robin Lehner (a pending restricted free agent) and Chad Johnson (a pending unrestricted free agent) are healthy. Ullmark, who has a 2.44 goalsagainst average and .923 save percentage with Rochester, turned aside 44 of 45 shots in a January start with the Sabres ... Jack Eichel (high ankle sprain) has missed 14 games and is practising, but is not likely to play Thursday. The Sabres are 6-6-2 without Eichel … Forwards Seth Griffith (upper body) and Evan Rodrigues (ribs) returned to practice fully on Tuesday and might play Thursday night. Kyle Okposo (concussion) and Kyle Criscuolo (shoulder) remain out.

UP NEXT

Saturday, vs. Montreal, 7 p.m. Kevin McGran