Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres Pick & Prediction APRIL 15th 2025
Preview and Prediction
The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the brink of securing the Atlantic Division title and can secure first place when they face off against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.
With a record of 50-26-4 and 104 points, Toronto currently holds a four-point lead over the second-place Tampa Bay Lightning. With only two games left for both teams, it is highly unlikely that the Maple Leafs will lose their lead and miss out on their third division crown since the NHL adopted a divisional structure in 1967-68.
The Leafs have been dominating the competition with an impressive 11-2-1 record since March 17 and are currently on a three-game winning streak. Their most recent victory was a 4-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes, another team that has secured a spot in the postseason. Despite only having 20 shots on net, Toronto emerged victorious.
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According to Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly, grinding through tough games like Sunday's is exactly what the team expects as they move forward. He also added that it can be nerve-wracking, but the more they do it, the more comfortable they become.
Leading the Leafs with 99 points (26 goals, 73 assists) is Mitch Marner, who is just one point away from becoming the fourth player in Maple Leafs history to achieve a 100-point season. Auston Matthews, who has two 100-point seasons under his belt, is also close to hitting another milestone with 399 career goals.
Tuesday's game will be the last road game of the season for the Leafs, who have an impressive 24-13-3 record away from home. However, clinching the division title in Buffalo won't be easy as the Sabres have a perfect 7-0-0 record in their last seven home games.
The Sabres (35-38-7, 77 points) are returning home after a disappointing final road trip of the season where they went 0-2-1. Their last game was a 7-4 loss to the Lightning, where they had a 2-1 lead after the first period but ended up giving up five unanswered goals.
Defenseman Connor Clifton expressed frustration with the team's performance, stating that many of their losses this season have been self-inflicted rather than being outplayed by their opponents.
The Sabres have been powered by their home win streak, with a record of 10-5-1 since March 15. Rasmus Dahlin leads the team with 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) during this 16-game stretch, while Tage Thompson leads the team overall with 72 points (44 goals, 28 assists).
In their last game, Buffalo's goalie James Reimer allowed seven goals on 31 shots, but he received little help from his defense. It is likely that Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start in goal for the Sabres on Tuesday, as they usually rotate their goalies.
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For the Maple Leafs, Anthony Stolarz is expected to start in goal after Joseph Woll started in their previous game against the Hurricanes. Stolarz has been in top form lately, with a record of 7-0-0, a .941 save percentage, and a 1.56 goals-against average in his last seven games.
Toronto has won both of their previous meetings with the Sabres this season, with victories on December 15 and December 20.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres Recap MAR 13TH 2022
Vinnie Hinostroza and Peyton Krebs each scored twice, and the Buffalo Sabres defeated the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 Sunday afternoon in the NHL Heritage Classic in Hamilton, Ont.
Hinostroza, who scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, also had an assist.
Tage Thompson added a goal and an assist for Buffalo in the game played outdoors at the home of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.
Craig Anderson stopped 34 shots for the Sabres, who have won two in a row.
Ondrej Kase and Auston Matthews scored for the Maple Leafs, who have lost two straight. Peter Mrazek made 33 saves for Toronto.
Buffalo had a 14-9 advantage of shots on goal in a goalless first period.
There were three goals in just short of three minutes to open the second period.
Anderson opened the period with a good save on Matthews.
Kase scored his 12th goal of the season at 0:40 on a rebound as he kicked the puck onto his stick.
Krebs scored at 1:22, shooting from the slot after a pass from Hinostroza.
Matthews scored his league-leading 45th from the right circle at 2:57 on a pass from Alexander Kerfoot.
Hinostroza scored at 10:53 of the second when his pass into the slot deflected past Mrazek off the skate of Toronto defenseman T.J. Brodie.
Toronto had a 27-23 advantage in shots on goal after two periods.
Mrazek made a good glove save on Casey Mittelstadt at 3:38 of the third during a Buffalo power play.
Hinostroza scored his 10th of the season on a shot from a sharp angle that squeezed past Mrazek at 5:16 of the third period.
Krebs scored his sixth goal of the season at 13:49 of the third from the slot. Mrazek inadvertently knocked the net off its mooring as the puck went in. The goal stood after a video review.
Thompson scored his 24th goal, short-handed, into an empty net, at 17:35 of the third.
The teams switched ends after 10 minutes of the third period. The Maple Leafs skated into the wind in the first period.