The Maple Leafs held an optional skate at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Friday. The Sabres held a full skate.
—
Morgan Rielly skated on Friday morning, but will not suit up against the Sabres due to an undisclosed injury. He joins Chris Tanev (upper body) on the sidelines.
So, the Leafs are down two of their top-four defencemen as they look to snap a two-game skid in Buffalo.
“We all gotta help out, right,” said coach Craig Berube. “Simplify your game. Buffalo’s a good offensive team. They’re a good rush team. They got a lot of skill. Guys are gonna have to help out as five-man units and simplify the game.”
After losing their first three games, the Sabres have righted the ship by winning three of four. They have scored 17 goals in their past four games.
“They’re super skilled offensively,” said defenceman Jake McCabe. “I know they’ve got a ton of odd-man rushes and [that’s] something that we haven’t been great at, so it’s something that we need to be detailed with as defencemen.”
McCabe and Tanev formed a formidable shutdown pairing for the Leafs since being paired together early last season.
“He’s a leader on this team in more ways than one,” McCabe said. “Not only with how he plays and with his voice in the room. He’s been around the game a long time and obviously we all know how hard Chris plays. It’s up to us, the rest of us collectively, to bring that attitude to the rink tonight shift after shift just like Tanny does.”
Philippe Myers and Dakota Mermis will draw in and make their season debuts with the Leafs.
Leafs Ice Chips: With Rielly and Tanev out, Berube calls for simplified approach As they look to snap a two-game skid tonight against the Sabres, the Maple Leafs will be down two of their top four defencemen with Chris Tanev and Morgan Rielly both dealing with injuries. Mark Masters has more.
—
Nick Robertson will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season. The winger has just one assist in seven games.
“He’s had some chances to score, just has missed the shot, missed the net,” Berube noted. “I think he’s going to be fine. He’s getting those opportunities. He’s got to bury’em.”
Berube suggested that Robertson is likely to play in Saturday’s rematch against the Sabres in Toronto.
Rookie winger Easton Cowan will get back into the lineup and play on the third line with Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua. After sitting out Tuesday’s game, Berube is looking for the 20-year-old to provide a jolt.
“I really liked that young energy in there,” the coach said of Cowan’s first four games of the season. “He’s got to be managing the puck. He’s playing with two big guys out there that are going to be around the net and they’re going to be heavy and he’s just got to make sure he does a good job with the puck and plays with energy and is responsible defensively.”
—
After starting the first seven games on the top line, left winger Matthew Knies is moving to the second unit with John Tavares and Matias Maccelli.
“Territorial game with that line for me, that’s what it’s all about,” Berube said. “JT’s a guy that really, when you get a territorial game and the offensive zone with him, that’s where he does his work, right? He’s so heavy on pucks and strong and he makes little subtle plays and scores goals around the net area and inside that slot area.”
Berube is hoping Knies, who has scored one goal in 5-on-5 play this season, will be good on the forecheck and be strong on pucks to create additional zone time.
Tavares, who has scored four goals in the last four games, is now just two tallies away from 500 in his career. Knies is relishing the chance to be involved in the milestone marker.
“It’d be sweet,” the 23-year-old said with a big smile. “I feel like we’re always talking about a milestone goal here. There’s a lot of players that have [hit milestones] but, yeah, it’s pretty cool. That’s an astonishing achievement. So, hopefully we can get him there tonight or in the near future. It will be pretty special.”
‘It’d be sweet’ for Knies to set up Tavares for 500th goal on new-look Leafs line John Tavares is two away from 500 career goals and his new linemate Matthew Knies is hoping to help him reach the ‘astonishing achievement’ tonight or in the near future.
—
Knies and Sabres forward Josh Doan became close while growing up together in Arizona.
“Having a guy like him is what allowed me to kind of get to this level,” Doan said. “You have someone to practise every day with and to battle and compete with. Our coaches did a good job of splitting us up in practice so we battled each other every day. That’s something that I think allowed both of us to be where we are now.”
On Friday night, Knies and Doan will face off for the second time in the NHL. When the good friends went at it in March in Utah, the Leafs came out on top in a shootout.
“I remember he took a penalty and we scored on the power play,” Knies said. “I remember looking at the box and he came out with his head down. So, that was all I remember.”
“If he wants to bring that up, then we’re going to have to be ready to go tonight,” Doan responded with a smile. “I think he took a run at me last year and then laughed about it after. I think this year, we’ll see. I mean, he’s a big boy, so he’s hard to get but, yeah, I think it’ll be a good battle between us tonight.”
Doan and Knies went out for dinner together on Thursday along with former Leafs defenceman Conor Timmins, who signed with the Sabres in the off-season, and former Utah winger Maccelli.
Doan is also looking for bragging rights over his father, Shane Doan, who is a special advisor to Leafs general manager Brad Treliving.
“He’s ultra-competitive, and he doesn’t want to lose to me in anything, so he definitely doesn’t want to lose in hockey to me,” Doan said of his father.
Doan is off to a strong start with his new team this season. He’s tied for the Sabres scoring lead with six points.
“It’s harder for my mom than my dad,” Doan said of the family loyalties. “I mean, the Leafs are his team, so he’s obviously cheering for them, but she’s got a split decision tonight.”
Bragging rights at stake as Arizona boys Knies, Doan battle in Leafs-Sabres rivalry Matthew Knies and Josh Doan are both from Arizona and grew up playing together for the Jr. Coyotes. The two have a long-standing friendship and are looking forward to facing off against each other tonight after going out for dinner on Thursday.
—
The Leafs are still anticipating a lot of support in the stands in Buffalo even though Toronto fans may be distracted a bit. Game 1 of the World Series is being played in Toronto on Friday night.
“I think it’ll be juiced,” said Knies. “There’s always a ton of fans here for us. So, yeah, I think it’s a cool atmosphere when we come here.”
The last game between the Leafs and Sabres in Bufalo was a special one as Toronto clinched first place in the Atlantic Division on April 15.
“I’m not going to lie to you, it kind of feels like a home game, especially last year when we were here.” Myers recalled. “I don’t know how it’s going to be tonight but the atmosphere is great and can’t complain.”
“It’s usually a pretty blue building for the Leafs,” Doan acknowledged. “We’ve been good at home recently and we got to defend our home ice if we want to be a team that can compete at the end of the year. So it’ll be a fun one. Hopefully we can silence them and get our fans going early.”
Leafs still expect ‘juiced’ atmosphere in Buffalo despite World Series conflict When Toronto visits Buffalo every season the games are known to be like a home game for the Maple Leafs. Despite the Blue Jays playing Game 1 of the World Series tonight, the players still expect the Leaf fans to come out in full force.
—
On Friday afternoon, the Leafs announced that Joseph Woll is rejoining the team and will resume team activities and on-ice participation as part of the return-to-play process. The 27-year-old goalie had been on a personal leave since Sept. 23.
Toronto has leaned on Anthony Stolarz to start the season and he will play for the seventh time in eight games on Friday. Cayden Primeau, who was claimed off waivers on the eve of the regular season, is scheduled to start on Saturday.
Alex Lyon will start for the Sabres on Friday.
—
Lines at Leafs practice on Thursday:
McMann – Matthews – Nylander
Knies – Tavares – Maccelli
Joshua – Roy – Cowan
Lorentz – Domi – Jarnkrok
Blais, Robertson
McCabe – Carlo
Mermis – Ekman-Larsson
Benoit – Myers
Stolarz
Primeau