Preview: Sabres vs Leafs

If recent history is any indication, the Buffalo Sabres have an excellent opportunity to pick up their second victory of the young season when the rival Toronto Maple Leafs take the First Niagara Center ice tonight.

The home team has won the past 11 times the teams have faced off, and 19 of the past 21.  The Sabres have flat-out owned the Leafs on home ice—going 15-1-1 over their past 17 home contests, including five straight.   Toronto hasn’t won in regulation in Buffalo since February 16, 2011.

Many current Sabres, including head coach Dan Blysma will get their first taste of the heated rivalry---one made even bigger after Mike Babcock reportedly came close to becoming the Sabres head coach this offseason before spurning Buffalo for the Leafs.

Of course, a victory would be a welcomed and much needed addition to the win column for the Sabres, who’ve lost four of their five games of the season, including a pair of one goal losses against Florida and Tampa in their previous two contests.

Going by practice the past few days and this morning's skate, it appears the first two forward lines will consist of Sam Reinhart with Ryan O’Reilly and Tyler Ennis, while Jack Eichel was centering Evander Kane and Jamie McGinn.  Brian Gionta moved down to the third line with Matt Moulson and Zegmus Girgensons, and Johan Larsson/David Legwand took turns between Marcus Foligno and Nicolas Deslauriers.

Reinhart (15:43) and defensemen Jake McCabe (16:26) both set career-highs in ice time last Saturday in Tampa.

Defensive pairings for tonight are expected to be Josh Gorges with Risto Ristolainen, McCabe skating with Mark Pysyk and Mike Weber with Cody Franson.

Moving McGinn up to Eichel’s line on the surface seems like a pecuilar decision, but Blysma explained his thinking on Sabres.com Tuesday, saying McGinn’s ability to cause problems in front of the net could lift the line.

“Jack, really, from the top of the circles doesn’t need a lot of help,” Bylsma said. “He’s a guy who can carry the load and can carry the mail. We’re looking at more guys [for] getting on the inside and being at the net front for that line. Jamie’s hopefully going to be a guy who’s going to get on the inside. The two goals he scored here in Buffalo (during the preseason) were examples of what he can bring for that line."

Regardless of what line combinations Blysma has used, the Sabres have struggled to score goals. In fact Buffalo has scored two or fewer goals in four of their five contests.   Reinhart scored in the first period their last time out in Tampa Saturday but the offense couldn’t muster anything else and the Lightning came back to win, 2-1.

One positive offensively for the Sabres is the generation of opportunity. Buffalo has outshot their opponent in three of five games.

Blysma told reporters on Tuesday that he’s pleased with the effort, but the team is capable of much more.

"We've been there for three out of the (five games) for sure," Bylsma said. "That's a good thing. I still think we can do a much better job in that regard, getting pucks and having more of a mentality of getting pucks to the net and having more people at the net to cash in on those opportunities."

Toronto (1-3-1) hasn’t begun the season much better than Buffalo, though they have gotten hot starts from Leo Komarov (three goals), Daniel Winnik (four points) and Dion Phaneuf (four assists.) Goaltender Jonathan Bernier has been so-so, posting a 3.09 goals against and .900 save percentage in three starts—all losses.

A key for Buffalo, in every game but particularly tonight is taking advantage of an opportunity to start fast. The Leafs have yet to score first this season, while Buffalo has done so twice.  Toronto has been outscored 6-1 in the first period through five games. To be fair the Sabres haven’t been much better, with just one goal and three against through the first 20 minutes.

Puck drop is 7:00pm.