The Toronto Maple Leafs look to bounce back from their first long streak of adversity this season, as they take on the struggling Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center Friday night.
The Blue and White are 4-5-2 in November and have been plagued with bouts of inconsistency all season, but things have taken a turn for the worse recently, as they have lost three of the last four games to Nashville, Columbus and Pittsburgh, where the blew a three goal lead.
The Sabres have always given the Leafs problems, especially in Buffalo where they are 2-7-3 since 2009-10 season. Toronto put in a fairly weak effort at First Niagara Center two weeks ago in a 3-1 loss, the first game for Sabres interim coach Ted Nolan and president of hockey operations Pat Lafontaine. They have lost five straight games since and have been outscored 18–6.
The first two meetings between the two clubs did not see a full-fledged escalation between Leafs enforcers Colton Orr or Fraser McLaren and Buffalo’s John Scott, but it is possible that with Toronto needing a spark after some questionable play, that this game could have some fireworks.
The Maple Leafs recalled forward Carter Ashton from the AHL Toronto Marlies Friday morning to take the roster spot of injured winger Joffrey Lupul.
Ashton has one assist in 13 games with the Leafs and three goals and two assists in four games with the Marlies and was demoted just last week to make room on the roster for Tyler Bozak, who returned to the lineup after missing almost a month with a hamstring injury, Lupul was placed on injured reserve Wednesday and is expected to be out at least two weeks with a grade 2 groin strain.
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Leafs nemesis Ryan Miller will make the start for Buffalo. Miller has a 30-15-1 career record, 2.45 GAA and .922 save percentage in 46 career games vs Toronto. James Reimer will make his first start since allowing six goals on 21 shots against Columbus on Monday. Reimer is 6-2-1, 3.31 GAA and .904 save percentage vs Buffalo.
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