Sabres Face Maple Leafs in Key Rivalry Matchup This Weekend

Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Sabres will face their Atlantic Division rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs, this weekend in a home-and-home series. The first game is scheduled for Friday at KeyBank Center, followed by a rematch in Toronto on Saturday.

Buffalo enters the matchup with momentum, having won three of their last four games. Their most recent victory came against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday, where they secured a 4-2 win. Jack Quinn stood out with three points in that game, while goaltender Colten Ellis made 27 saves in his NHL debut.

In contrast, Toronto has struggled recently, losing their last two games and facing injury issues among their defensemen. Chris Tanev has been placed on injured reserve, and Morgan Rielly is questionable after missing practice on Thursday.

Jason Zucker, who left Wednesday’s game with an upper-body injury, participated in Friday’s morning skate and is expected to play. Buffalo’s goaltending situation has also changed, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen returning to the fold while Alex Lyon is set to start against Toronto.

Jack Quinn has been a significant contributor for Buffalo, collecting six points in the last two games. Coach Lindy Ruff praised Quinn’s skating and performance, noting how important it is when he positions himself in the middle of the ice.

Meanwhile, Toronto is adjusting their lineup, moving leading scorer William Nylander to the wing alongside Auston Matthews, a combination that has not been utilized frequently in recent seasons. The Maple Leafs will have a new look as they aim to end their losing streak.

The puck drops for the rivalry match at 7 p.m. on Friday.