The Toronto Maple Leafs travel to face the Buffalo Sabres in an Atlantic Division clash on Saturday night. Both teams enter the matchup in different states late in the regular season. Buffalo has remained among the league’s stronger teams, while Toronto continues to search for positives.
The Sabres hold the edge in the season series and aim to keep that advantage. Toronto hopes to build on its first win since the Olympic break after losing its captain to a season-ending injury.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres Game Time and Location
The Atlantic Division matchup takes place on Saturday, March 14. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. The game marks the fourth meeting between the teams this season.
Buffalo enters with a 40-20-6 record and strong division form. Toronto arrives with a 28-27-11 record, coming off a 6-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday that snapped an eight-game losing streak. The Sabres won the previous meeting, 7-4, and lead the season series 2-1.
How to Watch Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres
Fans in the United States can watch the game on MSG-B inside the Sabres’ local broadcast area. Viewers outside the Maple Leafs and Sabres markets can watch through NHL Center Ice. The matchup will also air nationally on NHL Network.
MORE: Auston Matthews Injury: Maple Leafs Captain Out for Season With MCL Tear
Canadian viewers have multiple options. The game will be broadcast on CBC, Sportsnet Ontario, and Sportsnet Pacific across the country. Streaming options include CBC Gem and Sportsnet+.
Projected Lineups for Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres
Toronto Maple Leafs Lineup
Forwards
Easton Cowan – TBD – William Nylander
Matthew Knies – John Tavares – Max Domi
Matias Maccelli – Bo Groulx – Nicholas Robertson
Michael Pezzetta (questionable) – Jacob Quillan – Calle Jarnkrok
Defense
Morgan Rielly – Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe – Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Simon Benoit – Philippe Myers
Goalies
Joseph Woll
Anthony Stolarz
Buffalo Sabres Lineup
Forwards
Zach Benson – Tage Thompson – Noah Ostlund
Josh Doan – Josh Norris – Peyton Krebs
Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn
Tanner Pearson (questionable) – Sam Carrick – Beck Malenstyn
Defense
Mattias Samuelsson (questionable) – Rasmus Dahlin
Bowen Byram – Owen Power
MORE: Auston Matthews’ Agent Outraged at Ducks Veteran Landing Dirty Hit on Maple Leafs Captain
Logan Stanley – Luke Schenn
Goalies
Alex Lyon
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
What to Expect from the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres Matchup
Buffalo enters the game in strong form. The Sabres had their eight-game winning streak snapped in a 2-1 loss to Washington on Thursday, but still average nearly four goals per contest. Thompson leads the offense with 34 goals and 36 assists this season.
Toronto has struggled recently with a 2-6-2 record in its last 10 games. The Maple Leafs have averaged fewer than three goals during that stretch and allow more than three per game. William Nylander leads the team with 62 points and has 23 goals this season, while captain Auston Matthews finished with 27 goals before his season-ending MCL injury on Thursday against Anaheim.
Buffalo also holds a scoring edge this season. The Sabres average 3.47 goals per game, while Toronto averages 3.15. That offensive gap could shape the game if Buffalo controls possession early.
Toronto boasts one of the league’s top faceoff percentages, but this advantage is diminished without Matthews in the lineup. Still, winning draws could help the Maple Leafs control the pace. If their offense clicks early, they can give the Atlantic Division’s leader a close contest, a major surprise this season.
