Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 20th 2024

Stadium: First Niagara Center Buffalo
Logo Toronto Maple Leafs
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Logo Buffalo Sabres
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6
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MONEYLINE
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Preview and Prediction

The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to continue their winning streak as they face the struggling Buffalo Sabres on Friday.

On Wednesday, the Maple Leafs defeated the Dallas Stars 5-3, marking their fourth win in the last five games (4-1-0).

William Nylander scored twice, Nicholas Robertson had a goal and an assist, and Bobby McMann and Max Domi also scored for Toronto. This brings the Maple Leafs' record to 15-0-1 when McMann scores.

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Joseph Woll made 36 saves in the game, improving his record to 9-4-0 in 13 games this season. This impressive performance came just a day after the Maple Leafs announced that goaltender Anthony Stolarz will be out for four to six weeks due to knee surgery.

"(Woll) played an incredible game. He made some huge saves at the end," said Nylander, who has three goals and two assists in his last four games. "He really carried the team in those moments."

Woll has a 2.30 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage this season. However, in his two career games against the Sabres, he has a 1-1-0 record with an .866 save percentage and a 4.52 GAA.

Nylander leads the Maple Leafs with 20 goals in 32 games this season. This is his fourth consecutive season and seventh overall reaching the 20-goal mark.

Mitch Marner leads the team in assists (32) and points (42) in 32 games this season.

In their last meeting on Sunday, Nylander had an assist in Toronto's 5-3 win over Buffalo. Robertson and Domi also scored in that game, while John Tavares recorded his 14th career hat trick.

The Sabres have struggled since that loss, losing their last 11 games. On Tuesday, they were defeated 6-1 by the Montreal Canadiens. Buffalo has not won a game since their 4-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on November 23.

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"As a team, we need to take a good look at ourselves and regroup," said Sabres forward Ryan McLeod after Tuesday's game. "There's still a lot of season left, and we're not too far out of it. We just need to find a way to win our next game."

Dylan Cozens scored the Sabres' only goal against the Canadiens. This loss came just a day after team owner Terry Pegula flew to Montreal to address the team.

"I don't know, we just didn't have any energy or jump," said defenseman Connor Clifton. "You would think with the meeting yesterday and our 10-game losing streak, we would have had more energy."

Tage Thompson leads the Sabres with 16 goals and shares the team lead in points (25) with Alex Tuch.

In 22 starts this season, goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has an 8-10-3 record with an .896 save percentage and a 3.00 GAA. However, in his four career appearances against the Maple Leafs, he has a 0-3-1 record with an .829 save percentage and a 4.36 GAA.

Friday's game is the second of three meetings between the two teams this season. They will conclude their season series on April 15 in Buffalo.

PREDICTION
Toronto Maple Leafs
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3
Buffalo Sabres

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres Recap MAR 13TH 2022

Vinnie Hinostroza and Peyton Krebs each scored twice, and the Buffalo Sabres defeated the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 Sunday afternoon in the NHL Heritage Classic in Hamilton, Ont.

Hinostroza, who scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, also had an assist.

Tage Thompson added a goal and an assist for Buffalo in the game played outdoors at the home of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

Craig Anderson stopped 34 shots for the Sabres, who have won two in a row.

Ondrej Kase and Auston Matthews scored for the Maple Leafs, who have lost two straight. Peter Mrazek made 33 saves for Toronto.

Buffalo had a 14-9 advantage of shots on goal in a goalless first period.

There were three goals in just short of three minutes to open the second period.

Anderson opened the period with a good save on Matthews.

Kase scored his 12th goal of the season at 0:40 on a rebound as he kicked the puck onto his stick.

Krebs scored at 1:22, shooting from the slot after a pass from Hinostroza.

Matthews scored his league-leading 45th from the right circle at 2:57 on a pass from Alexander Kerfoot.

Hinostroza scored at 10:53 of the second when his pass into the slot deflected past Mrazek off the skate of Toronto defenseman T.J. Brodie.

Toronto had a 27-23 advantage in shots on goal after two periods.

Mrazek made a good glove save on Casey Mittelstadt at 3:38 of the third during a Buffalo power play.

Hinostroza scored his 10th of the season on a shot from a sharp angle that squeezed past Mrazek at 5:16 of the third period.

Krebs scored his sixth goal of the season at 13:49 of the third from the slot. Mrazek inadvertently knocked the net off its mooring as the puck went in. The goal stood after a video review.

Thompson scored his 24th goal, short-handed, into an empty net, at 17:35 of the third.

The teams switched ends after 10 minutes of the third period. The Maple Leafs skated into the wind in the first period.