Buffalo Sabres Vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Time: 21 December, 2009 at 7:00 PM ET
League: NHL – United States of America
Last 10 matches: Buffalo 6-3-1; Toronto 6-4-0.
The Sabres haven’t lost to the Maple Leafs since a 2-1 decision in Buffalo on Dec. 12, 2008. They haven’t lost in Toronto in 23 months. The last time was a 4-2 Leafs’ victory on Jan. 19, 2008. … Buffalo is just 3-for-45 on the power play in the last 11 games and just 1-for-26 over the last five games. The Sabres were 0-for-8 Saturday against the Penguins, dropping to 27th in the NHL in power play success (16.2 percent) A matchup of the first place team in the Northeast Division (Buffalo) against the last place team in the Northeast Division (Toronto). The Leafs are coming off a 2-0 win over Boston on Saturday while Buffalo lost to Pittsburgh in a shootout, 2-1, also on Saturday. However, Toronto has not been able to solve the Sabres or Ryan Miller. Buffalo scored four unanswered goals in the second period and five straight to win Saturday’s game. The Sabres have won the last eight meetings in this rivalry.
The Sabres may again be without Vanek (abdominal injury) while Chris Butler (ankle) and Nathan Gerbe (groin) are both likely out. Stajan missed practice Sunday, but says he will play. Carl Gunnarsson (elbow), Mike Van Ryn (knee) and John Mitchell (lower body) are all still out.
For the Sabres, Miller has been hot all season as he leads the League with a .937 save percentage, 1.89 goals-against average and four shutouts. Among the skaters, nobody has been particularly scorching of late, but that’s been the case all season. They have been spreading it out pretty good. For the Leafs, Gustavsson is feeling good and Tomas Kaberle, the team’s leading scorer with 32 points, picked up his first point in four games Saturday with his third goal of the season. Highlights, live score and results will be available soon.. stay tuned.