GDT: #38 – Sabres at Maple Leafs – Fri Dec 27 – 7:30 PM EST – MSG-B, TSN-HD – WGR-550

[26CornerBlitz]

GAME #38: BUF (10-24-3) at TOR (18-16-5) – FRI DEC 27 – 7:30 PM EST – MSG-B, TSN-HD – WGR-550 – CHAT

12/23 – SHORT-HANDED SABRES COME AWAY WITH BIZARRE OT VICTORY (Chris Ryndak – Sabres.com)

12/24 – Flu bug forces the Sabres to play short-handed, utilize tough guy John Scott (Bill Hoppe – Olean Times Herald)

12/24 – Crazy goal clinches Sabres’ exciting overtime triumph against Coyotes (Bill Hoppe – Olean Times Herald)

12/24 – NOTEBOOK: SABRES BIG MAN SCOTT STEPS INTO BIGGER ROLE (Joe Ray – Sabres.com)

12/26 – Improving Sabres travel to Toronto (Brian Hunter - NHL.com)

12/26 – Game Preview: 12/27/13 at Toronto Maple Leafs (Ian Ott – Sabres PR)

12/26 – Gameday: Sabres at Maple Leafs (Ian Shantz – Toronto Sun)

12/27 – Sabres at Maple Leafs Game Notes PDF (Ian Ott – Sabres PR)

12/27 – Preview: Leafs look to continue Sabres' road woes (The Associated Press)

12/27 – Leafs return from break with fresh outlook (Chris Johnston – Sportsnet.ca)

12/27 – Sabres sniper Matt Moulson faces interesting times (Tim Wharnsby – CBC.ca)

12/27 – THE MORNING SKATE: HEALTHIER SABRES RETURN FROM HOLIDAY BREAK (Chris Ryndak – Sabres.com)​

BUFFALO SABRES

Final Lineup

26 Matt Moulson – 63 Tyler Ennis – 28 Zemgus Girgensons
9 Steve Ott ("C") – 65 Brian Flynn – 21 Drew Stafford
17 Linus Omark – 23 Ville Leino – 82 Marcus Foligno
32 John Scott – 37 Matt Ellis – 27 Matt D’Agostini
X: 19 Cody Hodgson

20 Henrik Tallinder ("A") – 57 Tyler Myers
10 Christian Ehrhoff ("A") – 3 Mark Pysyk
4 Jamie McBain – 6 Mike Weber
X: 52 Alexander Sulzer

30 Ryan Miller
1 Jhonas Enroth

Lineup News & Notes

D Alexander Sulzer, F's Cody Hodgson, 23 Ville Leino, 82 Marcus Foligno, and 17 Linus Omark
were scratches in Monday's 2-1 OT win vs Phoenix.
F Cody McCormick is expected to miss 4-6 weeks (UBI).
F Cody Hodgson is day to day (UBI).

Weekly Transactions

12/23: D Mark Pysyk and F Johan Larsson recalled from Rochester (AHL)
12/23: D Chad Ruhwedel assigned to Rochester (AHL)
12/23: F Kevin Porter (LBI) placed on IR.

According to the Stats

In the last 10 games, Buffalo is 4-4-2. Ryan Miller has won four of five starts, allowing two goals or less in each.
Sabres' rookie Zemgus Girgensons has three goals and three assists in his past nine games.
​

Toronto Maple Leafs

Final Lineup

21 James van Riemsdyk – 43 Nazem Kadri – 81 Phil Kessel
12 Mason Raymond – 24 Peter Holland – 19 Joffrey Lupul ("A")
41 Nikolai Kulemin – 11 Jay McClement ("A") – 71 David Clarkson
29 Jerry D'Amigo – 22 Jerrod Smithson - 28 Colton Orr
X: 38 Frazer McLaren

36 Carl Gunnarsson – 3 Dion Phaneuf ("C")
51 Jake Gardiner – 4 Cody Franson
44 Morgan Riely – 15 Paul Ranger
X: 2 Mark Fraser, 26 John-Michael Liles

45 Jonathan Bernier
34 James Reimer

Lineup News & Notes

Toronto scratched D Mark Fraser, D John-Michael Liles, and F Frazer McLaren in Monday's 2-1 SO loss at NYR.
C Dave Bolland (LBI), C 4 Tyler Bozak (UBI), and F Trevor Smith (UBI) are on IR.

Weekly Transactions

None

According to the Stats

In the Last 10 games, Toronto is 3-5-2. Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots
against the Rangers and has a .960 save percentage over his past three appearances.​

A/V CLUB

12/23 – Highlights of Buffalo's 2-1 OT win vs Phoenix. <4:06>

12/23 – Dan Dunleavy recaps Monday night's 2-1 win against the Coyotes. <2:38>

12/23 – Ted Nolan talks to reporters after Buffalo's 2-1 OT win over Phoenix. <4:08>

12/23 – Highlights of the Leafs' 2-1 SO loss at NYR. <4:31>

12/23 - Randy Carlyle addresses the media following Toronto's 2-1 SO loss to the Rangers. <2:37>

12/27 - Ted Nolan speaks with the media following Friday's morning skate at Air Canada Centre. <3:47>

12/27 - Dan Dunleavy previews Friday night's game against the Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. <2:44>

12/27 - Randy Carlyle speaks with the media ahead of tonight's game as the Leafs host the Buffalo Sabres. <7:08>

12/27 - Molson Canadian #SEAofBLUE Game Day Preview: Bob & Paul on tonight's match up at ACC. <2:14>

12/27 - Drew Stafford speaks with the media following Friday's morning skate at Air Canada Centre. <2:20>

12/27 - Linus Omark speaks with the media following Friday's morning skate at Air Canada Centre. <2:14>

12/27 - Tyler Ennis speaks with the media following Friday's morning skate at Air Canada Centre. <1:27>

12/27 - Teppo Numminen discusses Friday night's game against the Maple Leafs. <0:42>

LAST H2H GAME

11/29/2013 – Toronto 2 at Buffalo 3.

[NHL]2013020388-X-h[/NHL]​

Click to read more...

 

[KeyserSoze81]

We are creeping up on the Oilers and Islanders... I want the 1st overall pick, but I also want our current youth to develop some chemistry and continue their progress under Nolan. What should we cheer for at this point (aside from winning the draft lottery)?

 

[Criispen]

Well crap, will miss this game due to a 13 hour flight... Really wanted to see us beat the Leafs.

 

[OcAirlines]

Just out of curiosity, with Rochester playing in Europe at the moment would the Sabres theoretically be allowed to recall a player from Juniors as an emergency recall? I know this isn't gonna happen with pretty much all of our prime prospects either at the WJC, at the Spengler Cup or being injured but but is this one of these situations where it would actually be possible?

 

[start winnin]

We are creeping up on the Oilers and Islanders... I want the 1st overall pick, but I also want our current youth to develop some chemistry and continue their progress under Nolan. What should we cheer for at this point (aside from winning the draft lottery)?

Always gotta root for beating the Leafs.

Lose against everyone else except Boston, and maybe Carolina I hate those guys.

 

[Splintered Sherwood]

Always gotta root for beating the Leafs.

Lose against everyone else except Boston, and maybe Carolina I hate those guys.

I agree. Beating the Leafs is one of the simple pleasures of life. Plus factor in that the loss will be captured in the mockumentary that is 24/7 for the Leafs, beating the Leafs tomorrow would be doubly sweet.

Besides, isn't this almost a gimme? Kessel will be on a three day tryptophan bender after inhaling at least 2 christmas turkeys, Phaneuf continues to be Phaneuf and the Leafs defence is about as plausible as a Wilhelm Reich contraption, the Leafs are ripe for a loss.

Anything less than a 6-1 drubbing of the Laffs is unacceptable. After friday, the tank can go back into commission.

 

[BananaSquad]

Lets Go Buffalo!!!

 

[ogoaltrop]

Always gotta root for beating the Leafs.

Lose against everyone else except Boston, and maybe Carolina I hate those guys.

Could not have said it better myself !

As bad as we need to tank, its always a must win against at least the laughs the b's and maybe the canes. The whining that goes on in them cities when we win is priceless !

 

[jc17]

Could not have said it better myself !

As bad as we need to tank, its always a must win against at least the laughs the b's and maybe the canes. The whining that goes on in them cities when we win is priceless !

I like that everyone's on the same page here

 

[mgeise]

I agree. Beating the Leafs is one of the simple pleasures of life. Plus factor in that the loss will be captured in the mockumentary that is 24/7 for the Leafs, beating the Leafs tomorrow would be doubly sweet.

Besides, isn't this almost a gimme? Kessel will be on a three day tryptophan bender after inhaling at least 2 christmas turkeys, Phaneuf continues to be Phaneuf and the Leafs defence is about as plausible as a Wilhelm Reich contraption, the Leafs are ripe for a loss.

Anything less than a 6-1 drubbing of the Laffs is unacceptable. After friday, the tank can go back into commission.

I wish I had this sort of confidence about anytime with this Sabre team, but the Kessel part made me

It's always great to beat the Leafs, so I'll forget about the tank tomorrow night. I'd love to see 24/7 continue to be a train wreck for them, too.

 

[Disengage]

Saw this thread and was like "HOT DAMN I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH THIS AT 7:30" and then I realized the game is tomorrow.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

Saw this thread and was like "HOT DAMN I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH THIS AT 7:30" and then I realized the game is tomorrow.

Did the same thing.

 

[Squantosawuss]

It's always great to beat the Leafs, so I'll forget about the tank tomorrow night. I'd love to see 24/7 continue to be a train wreck for them, too.

Yeah, 24/7 is so flat this time around. I lvoed the last two. But they unfortunately picked two slumping teams. lol Almost feel bad for Detroit, but what did they expect with Toronto?

Gee, can hardly wait for THAT winter classic.

 

[jvirk]

We are creeping up on the Oilers and Islanders... I want the 1st overall pick, but I also want our current youth to develop some chemistry and continue their progress under Nolan. What should we cheer for at this point (aside from winning the draft lottery)?

ehh i guess getting a top 3 pick this year isn't too much of a downgrade than the top 2...but if we let go of miller then you gotta understand we'll be worse next year..and as long as we get the first or second pick next year it's all good

if we get 3rd or 4th pick this year and end up w/ nylander or draisatl that's not anything to put our heads down over...let's just hope the youth continues to develop

 

[LaFontaineToMogilny]

Looking forward to see the GEM line again.

 

[1TuchAnd1NoTuch]

If we lost every orher game but beat the leafs every time I would be happy

 

[Bosswally]

best part about beating the leafs this year is on the Leafs board they start questioning their very existence, also this time we can beat them on 24/7

 

[Timbo Slice]

God I want to win so badly...

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

best part about beating the leafs this year is on the Leafs board they start questioning their very existence, also this time we can beat them on 24/7

I think every team questions their existence if we beat them haha

 

[couture23]

best part about beating the leafs this year is on the Leafs board they start questioning their very existence, also this time we can beat them on 24/7

I'm not sure if this game tomorrow night will be featured on this weeks episode of 24/7, and it definitely won't be on the last one because that covers the majority of the Winter Classic which is on Wednesday.

Last I remembered, HBO works right until the deadline to complete the episode so hopefully we will be featured right at the end of Saturday's episode.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

@BuffaloSabres

Moulson, Ennis, Girgensons, Foligno, Flynn, D'Agostini, Ott, Leino, Stafford, Omark, Ellis and Scott are your forwards skating. #sabres

@BuffaloSabres

#Sabres D pairings this morning: Ehrhoff-Pysyk. Tallinder-Myers. Weber-McBain. Sulzer working as the extra right now.

‏@BuffaloSabres

Defense shooting on Miller as the morning skate begins to wind down. Looks like he'll start tonight. No line work.

@BuffaloSabres

Sulzer and Hodgson working with the assistant coaches at center ice. Looks like they won't play tonight. #sabres

 

[26CornerBlitz]

OP Updated

New Game Preview Links Added, Updated Sabres/Leafs Lineups Post Morning Skates, and Added Link to Nolan's Post Morning Skate Media Session to A/V Section.

 

[joshjull]

@reporterchris: The #sabres plan to use John Scott on the power-play again tonight in Toronto.

Jame it's happening. I'm looking forward to it

 

[joshjull]

@BuffNewsVogl: New Sabres forward Linus Omark says his first name is pronounced "Lean-us"

Oh boy....

 

[26CornerBlitz]

@BuffNewsVogl: New Sabres forward Linus Omark says his first name is pronounced "Lean-us"

Oh boy....

Hamilton should have fun with that.