The Buffalo Sabres are set to play the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Scotiabank Arena. The Sabres have been performing well, with an 18-3-1 record over the past seven weeks, and currently hold a six-point lead over the Maple Leafs with one game in hand.
Toronto, after a strong start in early January, has struggled recently, going 1-4-2 in their last seven games. Despite this, Buffalo’s coach Lindy Ruff emphasized that his team is not underestimating their opponent. “We know that it’s desperation time for them,” Ruff said. “We can’t look at their record or look at their recent games and say, ‘Boy, it’s going to be an easier game.’ We know that this is going to be in their building, it’s the tail end of a homestand for them. We’ve got to make sure we come in there and play our game.”
The game will be broadcast on MSG in the Sabres’ market with pregame coverage starting at 6:30 p.m., and will also be available for streaming on Gotham Sports App and ESPN+ for out-of-market viewers. Radio coverage will be provided by WGR 550 and the Buffalo Sabres App.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start as goaltender for Buffalo. He previously allowed four goals during his season debut against Toronto but has since improved with a 7-2-1 record and a .922 save percentage over his last ten games. The rest of the lineup remains unchanged from Saturday’s win over the Islanders.
Among individual performances, Tage Thompson stands out by ranking second in the NHL with 23 even-strength goals this season and leading all players with 60 even-strength goals since the start of last season. Ryan McLeod has contributed significantly as well; he is plus-11 with 12 points over his last eleven games, and Buffalo holds a strong record when he records a point. The line consisting of McLeod, Jason Zucker, and Jack Quinn has outscored opponents by a margin of 12-6 during five-on-five play this season.
Luukkonen enters Tuesday’s matchup having posted a .935 save percentage and a 2.02 goals-against average across his last five road games.
Historically, only Buffalo and Colorado Avalanche have managed to win 18 out of any stretch of 22 games this season—a feat Buffalo previously achieved three times before making playoff appearances each time (1974-75, 2005-06, and 2006-07).
On Toronto’s side, forward William Nylander—who has tallied 48 points in 37 games—remains sidelined due to a groin injury along with defender Chris Tanev. Goalie Anthony Stolarz is expected to start after returning from injury last week.
This marks the third meeting between these teams this season; they split an October home-and-home series earlier this year. Buffalo has not won at Scotiabank Arena since November 2023.
