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The Toronto Maple Leafs face the Buffalo Sabres at the Key Bank Center in the second of back-to-back games on Saturday, but the as with the two games against Ottawa earlier this week, the lineup for both squads will be decidedly different.
It is expected that Buffalo will have Jack Eichel, Evander Kane, Rasmus Ristolainen and Kyle Okposo in the lineup, all of which were scratched for the Leafs 3-0 victory at Ricoh Coliseum on Friday.
The Leafs will have James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and Mitch Marner as their top line, but the rest of their forwards expected to be in action are those competing for spots on the fourth line.
According to
Jonas Siegel of the Athletic, Frederik Andersen and Kasimir Kaskisuo will be in goal for Toronto and if head coach Mike Babcock follows what he did on Friday, the Leafs starter will go for the first two periods.
Veteran Dominic Moore will look to respond to the challenge of Miro Aaltonen and centers Marlies leading scorer Kerby Rychel and Andreas Johnsson, Eric Fehr will skate between rookies Carl Grundstrom and Kasperi Kapanen and Ben Smith centers a line with Rich Clune and Nikita Soshnikov.
Defenseman Nikita Zaitsev is expected to see his first action of the pre-season, paired with last year’s defense partner Jake Gardiner and Calle Rosen will skate with Connor Carrick, the third pairing will be either Martin Marincin and Rinat Valiev or 2017 top pick Timothy Liljegren and Michael Paliotta.
Veteran blueliner Roman Polak has yet to see action in three scrimmages and three exhibition games. Sportsnet’s
Chris Johnston reported on Saturday that the 31-year-old defenseman has not been cleared to participate in games to this point and he is not rushing to return to the ice until he is ready.
“I need to take this slowly and now it’s about practicing and getting into game shape.” Polak said in Niagara Falls last week.
Polak indicated last weekend that he was focused getting back with the Leafs, which could mean that his getting back up to speed could last into the season. Toronto did keep Brandon Prust with the club almost two months into last season before the former NHLer signed in Germany and also invited goalie Karri Ramo, who was recovering from a knee injury.
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