Toronto Maple Leafs (28-27-11, 67 Pts) at Buffalo Sabres (40-20-6, 86 Pts)

Venue: KeyBank Center
Date: Saturday, March 14
Time: 7:00 pm EST
TV: MSG Buffalo, Sportsnet
Radio:
Toronto – SN 590
Buffalo – WGR 550

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Toronto Maple Leafs News & Notes:

The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves closer to the bottom of the standings than a playoff berth after a disappointing season. The Leafs snapped their eight-game winless streak on Thursday, but the game also saw their captain, Auston Matthews, injured in a brutal knee-on-knee collision that resulted in Radko Gudas receiving a five-game suspension. The Leafs will look to see what they have in their younger players down the stretch, and likely will give them more ice time, especially with Matthews out for the season.

Buffalo Sabres News & Notes:

Things have flipped in Buffalo, as the Leafs are poised to miss the playoffs, while the Sabres look to be headed for a playoff birth and maybe even a division title. The Sabres have elevated their game as the season has progressed, and will look to find themselves back in the win column after a 2-1 loss on Thursday.

Toronto Maple Leafs Projected Lines

Cowan-Tavares-Nylander
Knies-Domi-Robertson
Maccelli-Groulx-Robertson
Joshua-Quillan-Lorentz

Rielly-Carlo
McCabe-Ekman-Larsson
Benoit-Myers

Stolarz
Woll

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Buffalo Sabres Projected Lines

Benson-Thompson-Ostlund
Doan-Norris-Krebs
Zucker-McLeod-Quinn
Pearson*-Carrick-Malenstyn

Samuelsson*-Dahlin
Byram-Power
Stanley-Schenn

Lyon
Luukkonen

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Players To Watch:

Toronto Maple Leafs

Easton Cowan has had ups and downs throughout his rookie season, and tonight provides another opportunity for the 20-year-old rookie to prove he belongs at the NHL level. The 2023 first-round pick (28th overall) has compiled 17 points (7 goals, 10 assists) in 43 games this season, showing flashes of the offensive talent that made him a Memorial Cup MVP in 2025. Cowan is a highly intelligent and creative forward who creates opportunities with his speed and hands. With Auston Matthews shut down for the season, Cowan has a golden opportunity to secure more prominent minutes down the stretch and showcase why he’s considered Toronto’s clear-cut top prospect for the future.

Buffalo Sabres

Tage Thompson has re-established himself as one of the NHL’s premier centers this season, leading the Sabres with 70 points through 66 games. The 6’7″ center combines his size with remarkable skill and a deadly shot that makes him virtually impossible to defend when he has time and space. Thompson has been a major factor in helping Buffalo maintain their position as one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams. What makes Thompson so dangerous is his ability to take over games offensively and he is looking to continue that success tonight. Against a Maple Leafs defense that ranks 30th in goals against, Thompson will have ample opportunity to add to his impressive goal total. With Buffalo fighting to solidify their playoff seeding and potentially climb higher in the standings, Thompson’s ability to produce in crucial moments will be essential if the Sabres hope to complete the season series sweep against their northern rivals.

Injury Report:

Toronto Maple Leafs

F Auston Matthews – Out
D Chris Tanev – Out

Buffalo Sabres

D Conor Timmins – Out
F Jordan Greenway – Out
F Jiri Kulich – Out
F Justin Danforth – Out
F Alex Tuch – DTD
D Mattias Samuelsson – DTD
F Tanner Pearson – DTD

Next Game

Toronto – March 15 vs Minnesota Wild
Buffalo – March 17 vs Vegas Golden Knights

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