Buffalo Sabres vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: Game Preview
Date & Time: March 14, 2026, 7:00 PM
Location: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Current Standings
Buffalo Sabres
- Record: 40-20-6
- Points: 86
- Position: 1st in the Atlantic Division
Toronto Maple Leafs
- Record: 28-27-11
- Points: 67
- Position: 8th in the Atlantic Division
Special Teams Performance
Buffalo Sabres
- Power Play: 20.6% (16th in NHL)
- Penalty Kill: 82.7% (4th in NHL)
Toronto Maple Leafs
- Power Play: 20.1% (19th in NHL)
- Penalty Kill: 83.5% (3rd in NHL)
Key Players to Watch
Buffalo Sabres
- Tage Thompson: 66 GP, 34 G, 36 A, 70 PTS
- Rasmus Dahlin: 62 GP, 13 G, 47 A, 60 PTS
- Alex Tuch: 64 GP, 28 G, 29 A, 57 PTS
Toronto Maple Leafs
- William Nylander: 49 GP, 23 G, 39 A, 62 PTS
- Matthew Knies: 63 GP, 17 G, 38 A, 55 PTS
- John Tavares: 66 GP, 23 G, 31 A, 54 PTS
Projected Starting Goalies
Buffalo Sabres
- Alex Lyon: 18-8-3, 2.65 GAA, .914 Sv %
Toronto Maple Leafs
- Anthony Stolarz: 7-9-3, 3.4 GAA, .890 Sv %
Buffalo Sabres Line Combinations (Projected)
Forwards
- Peyton Krebs - Noah Ostlund - Tage Thompson
- Zach Benson - Josh Norris - Josh Doan
- Jason Zucker - Ryan McLeod - Jack Quinn
- Josh Dunne - Sam Carrick - Beck Malenstyn
Defense
- Bowen Byram - Rasmus Dahlin
- Owen Power - Michael Kesselring
- Logan Stanley - Luke Schenn
Goaltenders
- Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
- Alex Lyon
Injury Report
- Justin Danforth: Lower body, injured reserve
- Jiri Kulich: Blood clot, out for the season
- Conor Timmins: Broken leg, injured reserve
- Jordan Greenway: Undisclosed, injured reserve
- Tanner Pearson: Lower body, day-to-day
- Mattias Samuelsson: Lower body, day-to-day
- Colten Ellis: Lower body, day-to-day
Game Notes
The Sabres have been on a tear, picking up at least one point in 15 of their last 18 games (14-3-1). They've been the hottest team in the league since December 9, leading in wins, regulation wins, and points. A point tonight would mean a clean sweep of the season series against Toronto, a feat they last achieved in 2022-23.
Player Highlights:
- Tage Thompson has been electric, racking up 47 points in his last 37 games.
- Alex Tuch is riding a seven-game point streak with nine points.
- Rasmus Dahlin is on the verge of setting a new franchise record for even-strength points by a defenseman.
- Ryan McLeod leads the Sabres in assists since January.
- Beck Malenstyn could tie his career-best point streak tonight.
- Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen have been solid between the pipes, with impressive save percentages over recent games.
This matchup promises to be a thrilling chapter in the Sabres' impressive season, while the Leafs will be eager to turn the tide and climb the standings.