Sabres at Maple Leafs
Two promising young forwards have been impressive in their first four games for the rebuilding Toronto Maple Leafs. William Nylander and Nikita Soshnikov have combined for three goals on 23 shots since being recalled and hope to continue their development when the Maple Leafs attempt to snap a five-game losing streak Monday against the visiting Buffalo Sabres.
The 19-year-old Nylander netted his first goal in a 3-2 loss to Ottawa on Saturday while Soshnikov, 22, has recorded a pair of tallies. Buffalo has begun to show improvement this campaign after three straight last-place finishes in its division. Jack Eichel, a 19-year-old center, leads the Sabres with 19 goals and the 20-year-old Sam Reinhart has 18 to spur optimism that they can be a contender for a playoff spot next season. Buffalo lost to Minnesota 3-2 in a shootout Saturday, however, and has managed just two victories in its last seven contests (2-3-2).
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG, BELL TV (Buffalo), TSN4 (Toronto)
ABOUT THE SABRES (26-31-9): Eichel has registered a goal in two straight games to take over the team lead and has recorded 44 points in his rookie campaign – five behind injured captain Ryan O’Reilly (lower body). Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (37 points) and offseason acquisition Evander Kane (18 goals), a physical forward with skill, also have made strides this season. Robin Lehner, who started the last four games, is expected to sit out Monday in favor of backup Chad Johnson.
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (21-33-10): Toronto has managed just seven goals during its five-game losing streak and gave up the go-ahead tally to Ottawa on Saturday with 2:15 remaining. “That’s unfortunate after you work real hard to give yourself a chance,” coach Mike Babcock told reporters. “You want to win games; you don’t just want to be close.” Nazem Kadri has pulled into a tie for the team scoring lead (35 points) with Leo Komarov, who has been kept off the scoresheet in seven consecutive contests.
OVERTIME
1. Buffalo LW Johan Larsson has scored three of his five goals this season over his last five games.
2. Toronto C Brooks Laich assisted on Nylander’s goal Saturday and also helped set up father Michael Nylander’s final tally with Washington in 2009.
3. The Sabres defeated Toronto 3-2 in a shootout on Oct. 21 in the first of four meetings between the Atlantic Division rivals this season.