(WGR 550) - The Sabres come into Tuesday's game in Toronto three points ahead of the Maple Leafs for second place in the Atlantic Division. Buffalo has points in 10-of-12 games, going 6-2-4. That means they've picked up 16 out of a possible 24 points. Buffalo has also gained points in nine of its last 10 games, going 5-1-4.
Jack Eichel has a 16-game point scoring streak, scoring 15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points. Eichel's 23 goals are second in the NHL and his 48 points are fifth. Eichel has 14 more points than Toronto's Auston Matthews.
Eichel has two goals and two assists for four points in two games against the Leafs this season. Overall against Toronto, Eichel has 12 goals and 20 points in 15 games.
Victor Olofsson leads all rookies in the NHL with 14 goals and 30 points. Olofsson has 20 points in his last 19 games.
Linus Ullmark gets his fifth straight start in goal. He's also played seven of the last nine games. The netminder is 6-1-2 in those nine contests. Overall, Ullmark is 10-6-3 with a 2.84 goals-against average and .915 save percentage. Those numbers aren't good, but the team picks up points when he's in net.
Jeff Skinner had gotten off to a good start this season, but he has gone pointless in his last four games, and has just one goal in his last eight.
The Sabres have gone three straight games without giving up a shorthanded goal. Despite that recent success, the Sabres penalty kill still ranks 29th in the league at 75.2%. They scored two power play goals last game in Long Island.
Buffalo played the Leafs in a home-and-home series right after Thanksgiving and took three out of four points.
Toronto is 7-4-0 since Sheldon Keefe took over for the fired Mike Babcock. The Leafs just finished a Western Canada swing that included St. Louis and went 3-1-0. Toronto scored 15 goals in those four games, while Freddy Andersen allowed only eight goals. Andersen has started six straight games and 10 out of 11. The only game he didn't start was when the Sabres hung five up on Michael Hutchinson.
Andersen has posted a good save percentage this season at .921. Overall, he's 16-8-3 with a 2.49 goals-against average.
Mitch Marner has played five games since missing 11 with an injury. The winger has two goals and five assists for seven points in his last four games, and has 25 points in 23 games overall.
Matthews has gone pointless in four of his last six games.
Despite their recent success, it's rather surprising that the Leafs are 22nd in NHL points percentage at .529. Buffalo is 13th at .574.
Join Schopp and the Bulldog at 6:00 for the pregame when they'll have Ralph Krueger, Jack Eichel, Kyle Okposo and possibly Jason Botterill.
