Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – Ryan O’Reilly has been back to Buffalo as a member of the St. Louis Blues, but Tuesday will be the first time he gets to experience the Sabres/Maple Leafs rivalry from a Toronto standpoint.
O’Reilly had a huge smile on his face when I asked him about it after the morning skate.
“It’s going to be different, for sure," said O'Reilly on Tuesday. "It’s almost like half-and-half, and it’s going to be a lot of energy. I’m excited for it.”
O’Reilly has been playing with John Tavares and Mitch Marner since being acquired by Toronto on Friday. In his two games played so far, the veteran has picked up two assists.
“I still, at times, have to catch myself," O'Reilly said of being a member of the Maple Leafs. "I still can’t believe it, growing up and family growing up in Toronto, and actually wearing it now. It’s a little surreal, but I’m excited. It’s awesome, and I never did think it would happen.”
In addition to Toronto, St. Louis and Buffalo, O’Reilly started his career with the Colorado Avalanche. He says they’re nothing in sports like the Maple Leafs organization.
“We know that it’s the best organization in sports," O'Reilly said. "You can tell by just the way we’ve been treated, it’s at a different level from any team I’ve played on. It’s something different, because Toronto in the Mecca of hockey. But the organization, the players, it’s something very special.”
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Tage Thompson hasn’t been scoring goals as much with five in his last 17 games, which is a 24-goal pace. But for the first half of this season, he was on a 66-goal pace.
O’Reilly has noticed how good Thompson has become in Buffalo.
“Tage has been unbelievable," he said. "I feel like every time you turn on the TV, it’s another highlight reel with something he’s doing. Even today, watching video of how skilled he is and how dynamic he is, it’s going to be very tough to play against him.
"When you look at a trade like that, it definitely worked out for both sides. It's going to be a tough challenge for us to win tonight."
O’Reilly’s last season in Buffalo was the 2017-18 campaign, where only a few players are left from the squad. Kyle Okposo, Zemgus Girgensons and Casey Mittelstadt (six games) are the only players remaining from that season with the Sabres to this day.
O'Reilly certainly acknowledges how much of an improved team the Sabres are.
“It’s very different for sure," he said. "Watching it, it’s a very exciting team. You see the dynamics, and the way they create. They’re generating stuff so much, and they have tons of talent and speed. They use it very well.”
Rasmus Dahlin never played with O’Reilly in Buffalo, as he made his NHL debut during the 2018-19 season. The Sabres traded O'Reilly to the Blues in the summer of 2018. O’Reilly was excited when the Sabres drafted him, and likes what he sees from the young defenseman.
“Watching him play and talking to guys that have been there with him, it’s just the maturity that he has and the poise, just the way he plays," O'Reilly said of Dahlin. "It’s incredible, because he’s beyond his years.”
Defenseman Erik Karlsson is having a record-breaking offensive season from the blue line with the San Jose Sharks. However, he is a turnover machine and a huge liability in his own end of the ice.
Dahlin plays well at both ends of the ice, and head coach Don Granato wouldn't be shocked if he wins the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman.
When I spoke with Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman recently, he felt the exact same way.
Dahlin has just one goal in 15 games, but he has 12 assists.
Buffalo is on a two-game winning streak, as the Leafs show up not having played in Buffalo in 15 months. The Sabres played in Toronto back in November, losing 5-2 and allowing the Leafs two power play goals in five attempts.
In the last two games, the penalty killing has been a perfect 3-for-3.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will be in net after making 33 saves on 35 shots in San Jose. That broke a three-game losing streak for him.
Overall, Luukkonen is 14-7-2 this season with a 3.41 goals-against average and an .898 save percentage.
Buffalo is only 11-14-2 at home this season, and have lost its last two games by a combined score of 12-3 on home ice.
Toronto has gotten decent goaltending from former Washington Capitals netminder Ilya Samsonov. He’s 19-7-2 this season with a 2.38 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage.
Samsonov is the player the Sabres would've drafted had they not traded their No. 1 pick to the Ottawa Senators for Robin Lehner.
Marner and Will Nylander lead the Leafs in scoring with 66 points in 57 games. Nylander has 31 goals.
Toronto is just 4-4-0 in its last eight games, which includes losses to the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators.
Matthews has played three games since missing five due to injury. He has a goal and three assists in those three games.
Tuesday is a radio only game on WGR. Join Pat Malacaro and myself for pregame coverage starting at 6:30 p.m. EST when you’ll hear from Granato, O’Reilly and Mittelstadt.
