Sabres at Maple Leafs
THE STORY: A good divisional showing has served the Buffalo Sabres well of late. Extending their good fortune Thursday will mean a bump in the standings as they pay their first visit of the season to the Air Canada Centre for a date with the rival Toronto Maple Leafs. The Sabres trail the Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators by a single point in the race for third place in the Northeast Division, and can leapfrog both teams with a victory and an Ottawa home loss to Florida. Buffalo has been outscored 12-4 in consecutive losses to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Senators, but has won 16 of its last 23 games against Northwest Division opponents. On Thursday, the Sabres will face a Toronto club that has just two victories in its last 10 home contests. The Maple Leafs come into Thursday with defeats in seven of their last nine games, including a 3-2 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG-B, Leafs TV
ABOUT THE SABRES (16-14-3): Buffalo has been decimated by injuries in the early going, a development that has prevented the Sabres from meeting lofty preseason expectations. Among those on injured reserve are forwards Ville Leino (lower body), Nathan Gerbe (concussion) and Brad Boyes (right knee) as well as defenseman Tyler Myers (wrist). Keeping the Sabres afloat has been the solid play of Thomas Vanek, who is averaging better than a point per game and leads the club with 17 goals.
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (16-3-4): The injury bug has also landed in Toronto, leading to another chance for Nazem Kadri to impress. The 21-year-old forward was recalled from the Maple Leafs' American Hockey League affiliate after recording 22 points in as many games with the Marlies. Toronto's first-round pick in 2009, Kadri has played just 33 games in the NHL as he continues to develop. A strong showing during his latest recall could result in a longer stay this time around.
OVERTIME:
1. The Sabres won the first game of the season series with a 5-4 triumph in Buffalo on Friday night. Toronto had won the previous three meetings going into that one.
2. Toronto's Phil Kessel remains among the league scoring leaders but has slowed in December, recording just seven points through eight games.
3. Vanek, who torched Toronto for four points in the last meeting, has 22 goals and 19 assists in 39 career games against the Maple Leafs.