Maple Leafs at Sabres
THE STORY: The Toronto Maple Leafs will look for their fifth straight win and a sweep of the home-and-home series with the Sabres when they visit Buffalo on Friday. The Leafs defeated the Sabres on Tuesday 2-0. Jonas Gustavsson made 32 saves for his fourth straight win and second shutout in his last three games. It was his third career shutout. Nikolai Kulemin had a goal and an assist and Mikhail Grabovski also scored to lead Toronto’s offense. Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul, who have combined for 95 points this season, were held off the scoresheet. The Maple Leafs have won two of the first three meetings in the six game season series.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET. TSN, MSG-Buffalo
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (22-15-5): Toronto’s four consecutive wins have all come at home. Gustavsson, who has started them all, has a 1.51 goals-against average with a pair of shutouts over that span. Grabovski has sparked the offense with three goals and five points over the win streak. Toronto, 6-2-2 in its last 10 games, has lost its last three road contests and is 10-10-1 away from home. The Leafs are fighting to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2004 season. Kessel had his four-game goal streak and eight-game point streak snapped in Tuesday’s contest. After visiting Buffalo, the Leafs return home for a five-game homestand.
ABOUT THE SABRES (18-19-5): Buffalo has lost six of it last seven games and currently sits in 11th in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres are 2-6-2 in their last 10 games. In the first meeting in Toronto, goalie Ryan Miller made 26 saves, falling to 10-12-2 on the season. Backup goalie Jhonas Enroth is 8-7-3 this year. The Sabres, who have lost seven straight road contests, are 10-9-5 at home this season.
OVERTIME:
1. Gustavsson earned his first victory in five career starts against the Sabres on Tuesday.
2. Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf, Kessel and Lupul have all been selected for the NHL All-Star Game. Jason Pominville will represent Buffalo, while teammate Luke Adam was one of 12 rookies selected to participate in All-Star festivities.