Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have solidified their position at the top of the competitive Atlantic Division following a strong finish to the regular season. A win in this fixture would secure them a relatively favourable playoff bracket. To achieve that, they will need to defeat their geographical rivals on the road — the Buffalo Sabres.
Buffalo Sabres
Any hopes among the Sabres fans for a strong end to the campaign have quickly faded. After a brief resurgence, the squad has stumbled to three straight losses. Interestingly, their recent run of form coincided with an unsustainably high shooting percentage during even-strength play. Over their last 10 games, the Sabres converted 13.36% of their shots in 5-on-5 situations — the third-highest rate in the league. That level of efficiency is unusually high given the personnel available. This kind of volatility has been a hallmark of their entire season — a constant swing between good runs and poor patches. During their lowest points, the team has struggled considerably.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs appear to have finally settled on their number-one goaltender. Anthony Stolarz has consistently delivered performances of the highest level in recent months and is peaking at just the right time ahead of the playoffs. Alongside backup Joseph Woll, the tandem has combined for a 93.33% save percentage over their last 10 games — the best mark in the NHL over that stretch. Up front, the offensive burden continues to rest firmly on the shoulders of the top-six forwards. Auston Matthews has racked up 14 points in his last 11 outings, while William Nylander has recorded 11 points in 10 games.
Buffalo Sabres vs Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction
Gone are the days when the Toronto Maple Leafs would drop points against the Buffalo Sabres due to lapses in focus. The Maple Leafs have won each of the last four meetings between the sides, with three of those victories coming by a margin of three goals. As such, we’re backing two outcomes: a win for the visiting favourites and a low-scoring night for the hosts. The Sabres’ offence looks primed for regression.
