- Matchup: Buffalo Sabres (11-15-4) at Toronto Maple Leafs (18-10-2)
- Date & Time: Sunday, December 15, 2024 | 5:00 PM ET
- Location: Scotiabank Arena | Toronto, ON
- TV Coverage: MSG (Buffalo broadcast market) | Pregame at 4:30 PM
- Streaming: ESPN+ (Out-of-market viewers)
- Radio Broadcast: WGR 550 AM
The Buffalo Sabres, mired in a nine-game winless streak (0-6-3), face a tough challenge tonight as they visit their Atlantic Division rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs, at Scotiabank Arena. It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs, with Buffalo hoping to reverse their fortunes against a team that has consistently challenged them in recent years.
This matchup comes just two days after a hard-fought 4-2 loss to Washington, where the Sabres once again showed promise but struggled to close out a close contest. With confidence wavering and key divisional points on the line, the Sabres have an opportunity to reset against a formidable Toronto squad sitting atop the division standings.
State of the Sabres
At 11-15-4 and seventh place in the Atlantic Division, Buffalo’s season is teetering dangerously close to irrelevance. Despite flashes of brilliance, their inability to capitalize on tight games has plagued them during this losing skid. Seven of their last nine losses have been by two goals or fewer, including Friday’s setback in Washington.
Buffalo will need their top players to lead the way tonight. Tage Thompson remains the heartbeat of this offense, contributing 5 goals in his last 6 games and tying for the team lead in both points (24) and goals (16). He has been particularly dangerous in the first period this season, ranking among the NHL’s best in first-period goal production.
Meanwhile, Jason Zucker has emerged as a consistent force, recording 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) in his last 6 games, while Alex Tuch has been an absolute Maple Leaf killer, tallying 13 points in his last 8 meetings against Toronto. Add JJ Peterka’s promising contributions against the Leafs to the mix, and the Sabres may have just enough firepower to challenge their hosts.
On defense, Owen Power has quietly started contributing offensively, posting points in three of his last four games. Bowen Byram, too, has found his stride, earning assists in back-to-back games. Buffalo’s blue line will need to be airtight tonight to keep Toronto’s offensive stars at bay.
The goaltending situation, however, remains a question mark. James Reimer has been solid in his recent visits to Toronto, boasting a .934 save percentage over his last three starts there. Whether he or Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen gets the nod remains to be seen.
Toronto at a Glance
The Maple Leafs come into this game atop the Atlantic Division with an 18-10-2 record. They’ve enjoyed dominant performances on home ice, posting a 13-4-0 record at Scotiabank Arena. Toronto is, however, looking to rebound following a 4-2 loss to Detroit on Friday night.
Mitch Marner leads the Maple Leafs with 40 points in 30 games this season, placing him among the NHL’s elite. William Nylander and John Tavares have also been key contributors, combining for 25 goals and 43 assists. The Leafs’ offense can be lethal, particularly at 5-on-5, where they rank among the league’s top teams in production.
One notable area of concern for Toronto is their goaltending depth. With starter Anthony Stolarz sidelined due to injury, the Leafs may turn to rookie Dennis Hildeby for only his third NHL start. This presents an opportunity for Buffalo to test Toronto’s defensive structure early and often.
Keys to the Game
- Start Strong: Buffalo must take advantage of Toronto’s goaltending uncertainty. The Sabres have been excellent at scoring early, particularly Thompson, who leads the league in first-period scoring percentage among players with 10 or more goals.
- Special Teams Battle: The Sabres’ power play remains one of the league’s weakest (30th at 13.8%), while Toronto’s penalty kill sits seventh overall at 82.7%. Buffalo must generate clean zone entries and quick puck movement to exploit any lapses.
- Contain Toronto’s Stars: The Marner-Nylander-Tavares trio is as dangerous as any in the league. Buffalo’s defense cannot afford lapses in coverage, especially in high-danger areas where Toronto thrives.
- Winning Tight Games: Buffalo has shown they can hang with elite competition but needs to find composure late in tight contests. This is a perfect opportunity to prove they can close out a close game.
Players to Watch
- Tage Thompson (BUF): The Sabres’ top scorer has been on fire and will look to add to his strong numbers against a division rival.
- Alex Tuch (BUF): His history of dominance against Toronto makes him a key player to watch tonight.
- Mitch Marner (TOR): The Leafs’ leading scorer is capable of breaking open any game with his playmaking ability.
Head-to-Head
- Record: Buffalo 11-15-4 | Toronto 18-10-2
- Goals For Per Game: Buffalo (2.93, 20th) | Toronto (2.90, 22nd)
- Goals Against Per Game: Buffalo (3.27, 26th) | Toronto (2.60, 5th)
- Special Teams:
- Buffalo Power Play: 13.8% (30th) | Penalty Kill: 79.2% (17th)
- Toronto Power Play: 19.6% (19th) | Penalty Kill: 82.7% (7th)
Projected Lineups for Today’s Game – Courtesy of NHL.com
Sabres projected lineup
JJ Peterka — Tage Thompson — Alex Tuch
Zach Benson — Jiri Kulich — Dylan Cozens
Jordan Greenway — Ryan McLeod — Jason Zucker
Beck Malenstyn — Peyton Krebs — Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Mattias Samuelsson — Owen Power
Dennis Gilbert — Connor Clifton
*Scratched: Jacob Bryson, Henri Jokiharju, Jack Quinn
*Injured: Rasmus Dahlin (back spasms), Sam Lafferty (lower body)
Maple Leafs projected lineup
Matthew Knies— Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner
Max Pacioretty — John Tavares — William Nylander
Bobby McMann — Fraser Minten — Max Domi
Steven Lorentz — Connor Dewar — Pontus Holmberg
Morgan Rielly — Oliver Ekman-Larsson
*Scratched: Ryan Reaves, Nicholas Robertson, Philippe Myers
*Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), David Kampf (lower body), Calle Jarnkrok (lower body), Anthony Stolarz (lower body)
The Bottom Line
For Buffalo, tonight is about two things: snapping their losing streak and proving they can compete with one of the NHL’s top teams. A win would end their skid and inject much-needed confidence into a group that has shown glimpses of what it’s capable of.
Toronto expects to maintain its stronghold atop the Atlantic Division while capitalizing on Buffalo’s struggles.
Puck drop is set for 5:00 PM, and Sabres fans will be hoping for a complete, inspired effort from their team in a hostile building.