Sabers look to win first game in a month against Maple Leafs – Hockey Writer – Buffalo Sabers

The Buffalo Sabers return home on Friday night after a tough 6-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, a game highlighted by Patrik Laine's power-play hat trick.

The Sabers have a tough task facing the Auston Matthews-led Toronto Maple Leafs, but it's not impossible. According to Sabers head coach Lindy Love, the team will have guard Rasmus Dahlin back, but unfortunately, Jordan Greenway will not only be out for this game, but for a long time He will be out for a while as he will undergo surgery, but he is expected to return at some point during the season. Ryan McLeod also missed Thursday's practice due to “maintenance,” but he is also listed as questionable for this game.

They will take on the Maple Leafs at KeyBank Center, with game time set for 7 p.m. ET. This was the second meeting between the two teams this season; on December 15, the Maple Leafs won 5-3.

Maple Leafs vs. Sabers game preview

The Sabers entered Friday's game with an 11-17-4 record (26 points) but fell into a brutal 0-7-3 stretch over their last 10 games. Sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, they are eager to end their 11-game losing streak. The Sabers will be looking to turn things around and get their first win against a cross-country opponent in a month.

At the same time, the Maple Leafs currently have a record of 20 wins, 10 draws and 2 losses (42 points), and a record of 7 wins, 3 draws and 0 losses in the past 10 games. The Maple Leafs are tied for first in the Atlantic Division, just three points behind the Eastern Conference leaders and are riding a two-game winning streak. Their most recent wins include a 5-3 comeback victory over the Sabers on December 15 and a 5-3 victory over the Stars on December 18.

The Key to the Saber Game

Ready out of the box

The Sabers rank 22nd in the NHL in penalty kill percentage at 77.4 percent, and their struggles were evident Tuesday night against Patrik Laine, who dominated on the power play. Although the Maple Leafs are ranked 20th at strength, they are still dangerous with Matthews, an elite scorer on the team. Opponents have been exploiting the Sabers' weaknesses on special teams, and their inability to adapt has come at a high cost. The solution is simple: stay disciplined and avoid penalties, which is the Sabers' best chance at winning.

Win the Hockey Battle

The Sabers have struggled to consistently win puck battles, especially in the corners, which has been a key factor in their recent losses. If they can compete harder and win all the battles on the ice, their chances of winning will increase significantly — provided they avoid giving up multiple power-play goals to the same player from the same spot.

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Busyness, passion and energy are key. Winning puck battles is one of the most underrated aspects of the game. In the offensive zone, it creates scoring opportunities and extends possession. In the defensive zone it allows clearing, reset and passing through the neutral zone. This is a simple but essential part of success.

Just win

The team hasn't won a game since before Thanksgiving in America. Win at all costs. Block shots, get in the dirty zone, throw the puck to the net, be physical, you know what I mean. It doesn't matter how you win, it matters that you win and this team just needs to see themselves win and I believe better things will happen. I'd say this is the lowest point for the franchise, but knowing the Sabers they could reach new lows soon.

The clock is ticking for the team, from owner Terry Pegula who doesn't seem to care, to players who still haven't been held accountable for their poor performance. Showing some hope to fans.

Can the Sabers end the 11-game losing streak of their rival Maple Leafs?