Sabres @ Leafs - Mar. 11th, 7:00pm - SN, TSN 1050

[CarltonTheBear]

@

19-42-5, 43 pts | 26-35-6, 58 pts

Projected Lines

Moulson-Larsson-Ennis Foligno-Varone-Gionta Deslauriers-Schaller-Hodgson D'Amigo-Ellis-Dalpe Benoit-Bogosian Zadorov-Meszaros Stratchan-Ristolainen Lindback ​

Lupul-Bozak-Kessel JVR-Holland-Panik       Komarov-Kadri-Booth      Sill-Smith-Lindstrom Gardiner-Phaneuf Brewer-Rielly Erixon-Somebody Bernier​

Scratches

Mike Weber​

Brandon Kozun​

Game Notes

BUF
?Lindback will likely start for the Sabres
?Buffalo's 4 centres a) are all actual, real hockey players and b) have all played more AHL games this season than NHL games

TOR
?Bernier likely starts for the Leafs
?Granberg was re-assigned to the Marlies earlier today, so it's expected that a different defenceman will fill the 6D spot and he'll be called up tomorrow morning
?The assumption was that Kadri would just sit for one game, so he'll likely return to the line-up

Injuries

?Andrej Meszaros - Upper Body - Probable Wednesday ?Zach Bogosian - Lower Body - Probable Wednesday ?Chad Johnson - Lower Body - Injured Reserve ?Patrick Kaleta - Lower Body - Injured Reserve ?Zemgus Girgensons - Foot - Injured Reserve ?Josh Gorges - Lower Body - Injured Reserve ?Evander Kane - Shoulder - Injured Reserve ?Cody McCormick - Leg - Injured Reserve​

[td]

[/td]
[td]

?Stephane Robidas - Shoulder - Out for season         
?Roman Polak - Hernia - Out for season​

[/td]

Stream Options

http://www.reddit.com/r/NHLstreams
http://vaughnlive.tv/leafstreamer
http://ourleafs.blogspot.ca/
​

 

[Kin]

I made reference to it on Saturday night but after that beating the Leafs took they started running promos for this one with a very serious voice-over saying "This isn't about a Wild Card, This isn't about the Post-Season. If you're a hockey player, this is about one thing. Pride" while "highlights" of the Sabres and Leafs played.

Seriously, how much better would this game be if both teams were trying to score on their own nets?

 

[bustaheims]

This one will be tough to lose, but, I have faith.

 

[Stickytape]

Maybe we get lucky and everyone shows up late to the morning skate.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I made reference to it on Saturday night but after that beating the Leafs took they started running promos for this one with a very serious voice-over saying "This isn't about a Wild Card, This isn't about the Post-Season. If you're a hockey player, this is about one thing. Pride" while "highlights" of the Sabres and Leafs played.

Seriously, how much better would this game be if both teams were trying to score on their own nets?

The radio ads on TSN1050 were calling the game the McDavid Cup like it was a actual trophy to be won.

 

[ZBBM]

Buffalo's defense pairings don't look as awful on paper as they must be on the ice.  At least I've heard of one guy on each.....  :-\

 

[moon111]

Toronto usually has problems with Buffalo.  Don't fail us now.

 

[Frank E]

I made reference to it on Saturday night but after that beating the Leafs took they started running promos for this one with a very serious voice-over saying "This isn't about a Wild Card, This isn't about the Post-Season. If you're a hockey player, this is about one thing. Pride" while "highlights" of the Sabres and Leafs played.

Seriously, how much better would this game be if both teams were trying to score on their own nets?

That's a prideful defense lineup.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I made reference to it on Saturday night but after that beating the Leafs took they started running promos for this one with a very serious voice-over saying "This isn't about a Wild Card, This isn't about the Post-Season. If you're a hockey player, this is about one thing. Pride" while "highlights" of the Sabres and Leafs played.

Seriously, how much better would this game be if both teams were trying to score on their own nets?

That's a prideful defense lineup.

Hey man what do you expect when a team loses Franson, Polak, and Robidas in the span of a few weeks.

Oh wait...

 

[freer]

I made reference to it on Saturday night but after that beating the Leafs took they started running promos for this one with a very serious voice-over saying "This isn't about a Wild Card, This isn't about the Post-Season. If you're a hockey player, this is about one thing. Pride" while "highlights" of the Sabres and Leafs played.

Seriously, how much better would this game be if both teams were trying to score on their own nets?

That's a prideful defense lineup.

Hey man what do you expect when a team loses Franson, Polak, and Robidas in the span of a few weeks.

Oh wait...

I am look for a 6-5 lose. players can pad stats so they are worth more to trade later, and Bernier comes cheaper if he stays.

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

I have a hard time believing we'll lose this game.

Lupul hasn't had a point in 8 straight which seems like it'll end tonight (maybe in a big way). Kessel's been relatively cold. JVR just got back on the scoring wagon last game so maybe he'll keep it up.

In short, I expect a big Leaf win (though I'd happily take the most hilarious loss of the season).

 

[CarltonTheBear]

[tweet]575648307659337728[/tweet]

It's MacWilliam's turn to remind everybody that he's not a NHL prospect!

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Probably not the most deserving, but they likely don't want to take the Marlies' best players away right now.

 

[Crucialness Key]

Obligatory-->

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Probably not the most deserving, but they likely don't want to take the Marlies' best players away right now.

Percy and Loov have the most NHL upside, but it really seems like the Leafs don't want to throw guys like that into this mess right now. And while it'd be nice to see Brennan get a shot, like you said the best way he can help the organization right now is by helping the Marlies get into the playoffs. So that means we'll be stuck with MacWilliam and Granberg as options for the Leafs.

 

[Crucialness Key]

Would there be any point pairing Rielly-Erixon just on the off chance there's any chemistry there?

(Then Brewer-MacWilliam as the "eh, neither of these guys matter long-term anyway" pair)

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Would there be any point pairing Rielly-Erixon just on the off chance there's any chemistry there?

(Then Brewer-MacWilliam as the "eh, neither of these guys matter long-term anyway" pair)

It would probably make the most sense. At even-strength against the Islanders Brewer played about 6 more even-strength minutes than Erixon. In any event, that has to change.

 

[Kaberle15]

Nah, that is 2 points we can't afford to gain!

Play Brewer 30 minutes he is making us miss Aki Berg...

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

So Buffalo is awful possession wise, but they have a 5on5 sv pct over .940 and shooting percentage over 9% lately.

I figure they are on par with the Leafs possession wise tonight and lay a fairly significant beating on Toronto.

 

[Rebel_1812]

My friend is going to this game.  I told him it was a battle of the basement dwellers.