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SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes from Maple Leafs practices and game-day skates. The Leafs held an optional skate at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Monday. The Sabres had a full skate. 

On Sunday, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock noted that the Buffalo Sabres are probably sick of hearing about how great things are going for their rivals down the road. Sabres centre Ryan O’Reilly confirmed that is, indeed, the case. 

“We have TSN on a lot and definitely there’s a lot of  Leafs focus, but it’s part of the rivalry,” he said with a sigh. “The city of Buffalo is always hearing about how great Toronto is whether it’s the city or the team. You know, it’s nice, it builds the rivalry and makes it a little more exciting.”

Once considered ahead of the Leafs in the rebuilding process, the Sabres currently sit dead last in the Eastern Conference. So these four games against Toronto in the next four weeks – Jason Pominville described them as a “mini series” – represent a chance for the Sabres players to give their restless fan base something to cheer for in a season full of regret. Buffalo has the worst home record in the NHL this season at 9-18-4.  

“We’re trying to measure up,” said O’Reilly. “These guys are a team that regrouped and had young guys come in and get established and that’s something we were looking to do and we fell behind ... We’re trying to make this a tough building to play in and it hasn’t been tough this year. We’re really disappointed with the way we’ve performed at home and we have these opportunities (now).

“With the excitement in the air tonight it will be a good test for us and a good opportunity.”

O'Reilly insists it won't be hard to find motivation down the stretch. 

“It’s still our job and I feel we’re trying to prove something and we’re all kind of fighting for our lives here. When things don’t go well, adjustments are made.”

In recent years Toronto has struggled at the building currently called the KeyBank Center, but the tide seemed to turn last season when the Leafs posted multiple wins in Buffalo (2-1-0) for the first time since the 2007-08 season. 

“Growing up it was a tough place for the Leafs to play,” recalled Toronto native Zach Hyman, who made the trip down the QEW to watch games as a fan several times. “Luckily, that’s in the past and now we’re looking at our team and what we can do here.”

Playing centre could help Nylander’s offence 

William Nylander practised at centre on Sunday, skating between Hyman and Connor Brown, meaning the Swede may get another big chance tonight to prove he can drive his own line. 

“It’s good for Willie,” said Hyman. “It’s different. He can skate more. I think when you’re in the middle you have more leeway to be more offensive, but at the same time you have to be more defensive, too, so you have to pick and choose your spots. And you got to be strong defensively, because that’s how you get the puck ... Willie has all the tools to be a really good centre.”

Nylander last started a game at centre a week ago tonight in Tampa Bay where he struggled against Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point. But the sophomore NHLer has shown himself to be an excellent playmaker this season, producing 35 assists. 

“He skates around with his head up the whole time so he’s never looking down at the puck,” noted Brown, “and he’s got such good posture that he can scan the whole rink so it makes for a good passer.”

After Monday’s optional skate, Babcock smiled coyly and said he wasn’t 100 per cent sure if Nylander would start at centre tonight. 

Babcock still fuming about PK letdown

Since Saturday’s game, Babcock has made it clear how unhappy he is with how the penalty kill performed against the Washington Capitals. So, what would he like to see them do differently tonight? 

“Well, we got to go to the meeting and then do what was said in the meeting, that’d be a good start,” the coach quipped with a smile. “No, I mean, I don’t know what happened there. We gave up two we shouldn’t have given up. There was no reason to. We got to get our foot on the gas and do it right. The details of the game have to be looked after.”

The Leafs have allowed three power-play goals against in the last two games. 

“We were pretty good before that,” said Hyman. “We went on a nice little run there and then we got away from it last game. Those are things we can clean up.”

Prior to the last two games, Toronto had killed 19 of 20 penalties over a 10-game stretch. 

Plekanec adjusting to life with Leafs 

The Leafs haven’t won since acquiring Tomas Plekanec prior to the trade deadline. The veteran centre is still adjusting to a new organization after spending his entire career in Montreal. 

“I've talked to him a number of times,” said Babcock. “In Detroit, we traded for guys like that a number of times. The biggest thing when you come and you’ve been in one place a long, long time is you’re used to doing everything the same way. Suddenly, you find yourself on the ice and you’re thinking and you wonder why nothing is going right for you. Well, you're spending too much time thinking and nothing’s loose.

“It’s all going to work out perfect for him; he’s just got to be a little bit more patient with himself and we are, there’s no problem whatsoever. He’ll be a big part of our team. He’s just got to work through the process.”

Projected Leafs lineup for tonight’s game in Buffalo: 

Forwards
Marleau-Kadri-Marner 
Hyman-Nylander-Brown 
van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Kapanen
Martin-Plekanec-Komarov 

Scratch: Leivo
Injured: Matthews 

Defencemen
Rielly-Hainsey 
Gardiner-Zaitsev 
Dermott-Carrick 

Scratch: Polak 

Goaltenders
Andersen starts 
McElhinney