Nation Sites
The Nation Network
The LeafsNation has no direct affiliation to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
LGD: Buffalow
Photo credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
By ThatsKappy
Mar 20, 2019, 12:17 EDT
We still doing this?
The Leafs have dropped four of their last five, and are coming off of being shut out by the Nashville Predators. That being said, they looked much more defensively sound. Hopefully that carries over to tonight, as Garret Sparks and the Toronto Maple Leafs pay visit to the Buffalo Sabres on the second half of a back-to-back.
Leafs Lines
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ZACH HYMAN Rating: 74.0#46 LW |  JOHN TAVARES Rating: 82.7#9 C |  MITCH MARNER Rating: 78.9#14 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 78.54#11 FL1 |
 ANDREAS JOHNSSON Rating: 76.3#26 LW |  AUSTON MATTHEWS Rating: 84.4#6 C |  WILLIAM NYLANDER Rating: 76.0#33 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 78.90#3 FL2 |
 PATRICK MARLEAU Rating: 73.1#59 LW |  NAZEM KADRI Rating: 77.7#33 C |  KASPERI KAPANEN Rating: 73.7#52 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 74.85#2 FL3 |
 TREVOR MOORE Rating: 72.9#68 LW |  NIC PETAN Rating: 69.5#171 C |  CONNOR BROWN Rating: 70.7#104 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 71.03#14 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 MORGAN RIELLY Rating: 80.2#5 LD |  RON HAINSEY Rating: 73.2#48 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 76.68#13 DL1 |
 JAKE MUZZIN Rating: 76.4#18 LD |  NIKITA ZAITSEV Rating: 71.3#83 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 73.82#16 DL2 |
 JUSTIN HOLL Rating: 73.1#55 LD |  IGOR OZHIGANOV Rating: 71.6#79 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 72.37#9 DL3 |
- Leafs rolling with the same lines, albeit with one game-time decision, per Kristen Shilton. Keep an eye out for that.
- No Marincin (illness), Dermott (shoulder) or Gardiner (back). Status quo.
Sabres Lines
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 JEFF SKINNER Rating: 78.8#12 LW |  JACK EICHEL Rating: 80.2#17 C |  SAM REINHART Rating: 75.9#34 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 78.30#12 FL1 |
 CONOR SHEARY Rating: 72.6#73 LW |  EVAN RODRIGUES Rating: 72.2#72 C |  ALEX NYLANDER Rating: 73.4#58 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 72.73#27 FL2 |
 VLADIMIR SOBOTKA Rating: 68.1#185 LW |  CASEY MITTELSTADT Rating: 70.2#158 C |  TAGE THOMPSON Rating: 69.6#122 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 69.28#31 FL3 |
 ZEMGUS GIRGENSONS Rating: 70.3#157 LW |  JOHAN LARSSON Rating: 68.3#184 C |  KYLE OKPOSO Rating: 70.9#99 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 69.86#27 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 ZACH BOGOSIAN Rating: 71.3#84 LD |  RASMUS RISTOLAINEN Rating: 74.8#30 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 73.04#27 DL1 |
 RASMUS DAHLIN Rating: 73.0#59 LD |  BRANDON MONTOUR Rating: 74.8#29 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 73.93#15 DL2 |
 MARCO SCANDELLA Rating: 70.1#120 LD |  CASEY NELSON Rating: 69.4#98 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 69.76#27 DL3 |
- The Nylander brothers square off tonight in Buffalo!
- Please don’t lose to this lineup.
Starting Goalies
- Garret Sparks (.902) is in for the Leafs. That save percentage is starting to look ugly; let’s bump it up tonight.
- Carter Hutton (.910) goes for the Sabres. He’s been up and down this season for the Sabres, and the Leafs ate him alive last month in Toronto. Let’s do it again.
Puck Drop is at 7pm ET on Sportsnet.
Breaking News
- Ryan Tverberg reportedly signs 1-year, $850K extension with Maple Leafs
- Leafs development camp scrimmage notebook: McKenna’s playmaking, Koblar shines, Nansi wins superlatives, quick hits
- Gavin McKenna confirms he’ll wear No. 92 for Maple Leafs
- Instant Reaction: Maple Leafs add speed, upside on 2-year deal worth $1.55M for Emil Andrae
- Maple Leafs sign Emil Andrae to two-year contract reportedly worth $1.55M annually