Ahead of Sunday’s game, the Toronto Maple Leafs hold a 12-point lead over the Buffalo Sabres in the Atlantic Division standings, but they’re not taking their opponent lightly.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube and defenceman Jake McCabe both highlighted the danger the Sabres present off the rush.

“Rush defence,” Berube said, when asked about what he wants to see his team improve from Saturday’s loss to the Detroit Red Wings. “I think even going into the Anaheim game, we gave up a few rush chances in the first period and last night, we got scored on twice on it. We have to clean that up. It starts in the offensive zone for me, with reloads and more urgency by our forwards. Reading the rush better coming into our zone, we can’t give up two goals off the rush. We have to be better there.”

Berube and McCabe both made it clear that the Maple Leafs were focused internally on their own improvements, rather than reacting to their opponent, but Buffalo’s speed and ability to score in transition was an area of emphasis.

Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Bowen Byram have accounted for 14 of Buffalo’s 89 goals to date and are active on the rush. McCabe highlighted how it’s a team-wide effort to suppress the Sabres’ trio of young, offensively-gifted defencemen from attacking in transition.

“I think on the forecheck, you just have to be aware, especially our forwards, of them jumping by and hopping up into the rush,” McCabe said. “I think we did a good job of that last night too. Just making sure you’re above and not really taking a breath, because they can skate like you said. They like to join and you have to be aware of them joining in late in the rush, and turnovers and what not, and you have to keep your head on a swivel as a defenceman, barking out orders if you see them in the rush.”

Buffalo and Toronto are both playing in the second game of back-to-backs, and the Maple Leafs made a number of changes to their lineup as Nick Robertson, Ryan Reaves and Philippe Myers factor back into the lineup, while Pontus Holmberg, Fraser Minten and Conor Timmins are coming out. Toronto will be looking to stifle a league-average Buffalo offence, with a clear emphasis on limiting chances in transition.