by Terry Koshan
Buffalo Sabres (13-26-5) at Toronto Maple Leafs (22-20-5)
7:30 p.m. at Air Canada Centre
TV: TSN
Radio: Fan 590
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Playing the Sabres
The most important key? The Leafs are playing the worst team in the NHL, one that has a mere four road victories in 20 games, and just one since Nov. 5. Toronto is five games over .500 at home, and if they are unable to stretch that to six, they should be embarrassed when they wake up on Thursday morning.
2. Take James’ cue
There have been few consistent positives in the Leafs’ overall game, but one is that James van Riemsdyk has taken to parking himself in front of the opposing netminder. Carter Ashton went hard to the net against the Devils the other night, and other Leafs have to get in Ryan Miller’s face.
3. Power it up
Trying to goad the Sabres into taking minor penalties might be on Randy Carlyle’s whiteboard, as the Leafs have the No. 1 power play in the NHL on home ice at 28.2%. The Sabres are in the middle of the pack when it comes to killing penalties on the road, sitting in 17th place.
4. Sick thoughts
The Leafs have been beset by the flu bug, with as much as half the roster affected in one way or another in the past few days, most recently (and notably), David Clarkson. As such, fatigue could be an issue for Toronto, especially on the second half of a back to back.
5. Not so fast
Though it would make sense for the Leafs to go for the jugular against the NHL’s worst team, it should be noted that the Sabres don’t go away meekly. Prior to Tuesday, they had 10 wins when they had given up the first goal. Only Anaheim, with 15 victories after going down 1-0, had more in the NHL.
Source:- http://www.torontosun.com/2014/01/14/buffalo-sabres-vs-maple-leafs-preview
Buffalo Sabres (13-26-5) at Toronto Maple Leafs (22-20-5)
7:30 p.m. at Air Canada Centre
TV: TSN
Radio: Fan 590
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Playing the Sabres
The most important key? The Leafs are playing the worst team in the NHL, one that has a mere four road victories in 20 games, and just one since Nov. 5. Toronto is five games over .500 at home, and if they are unable to stretch that to six, they should be embarrassed when they wake up on Thursday morning.
2. Take James’ cue
There have been few consistent positives in the Leafs’ overall game, but one is that James van Riemsdyk has taken to parking himself in front of the opposing netminder. Carter Ashton went hard to the net against the Devils the other night, and other Leafs have to get in Ryan Miller’s face.
3. Power it up
Trying to goad the Sabres into taking minor penalties might be on Randy Carlyle’s whiteboard, as the Leafs have the No. 1 power play in the NHL on home ice at 28.2%. The Sabres are in the middle of the pack when it comes to killing penalties on the road, sitting in 17th place.
4. Sick thoughts
The Leafs have been beset by the flu bug, with as much as half the roster affected in one way or another in the past few days, most recently (and notably), David Clarkson. As such, fatigue could be an issue for Toronto, especially on the second half of a back to back.
5. Not so fast
Though it would make sense for the Leafs to go for the jugular against the NHL’s worst team, it should be noted that the Sabres don’t go away meekly. Prior to Tuesday, they had 10 wins when they had given up the first goal. Only Anaheim, with 15 victories after going down 1-0, had more in the NHL.
Source:- http://www.torontosun.com/2014/01/14/buffalo-sabres-vs-maple-leafs-preview
