GAMEDAY: In Buffalo, Maple Leafs can set franchise record for road wins

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When: Tuesday, 7 p.m., KeyBank Center

TV: TSN4 Radio: TSN 1050

Odds: Maple Leafs -169, Sabres +136

The buzz

A victory would be the Maple Leafs’ 25th road win of 2024-25, which would set a franchise record. The mark of 24 was set last season …Tonight’s game is partly brought to you by the No. 99. Captain Auston Matthews has 399 career goals and Mitch Marner has 99 points on the season. It would be fitting for Marner to reach 100 points for the first time in the NHL with an assist on Matthews’ 400th career goal, wouldn’t it? … With 50 wins, the Leafs have tied the 2022-23 team for second-most in franchise history. The franchise record of 54 was set in 2021-22 … After winning five in a row, the Sabres have lost their past three games. Buffalo has not done much right this season, but its home record of 22-14-3 has a ring of respect to it … Somehow, the Leafs are going to have to find a fix for the penalty kill in the coming days. Since Jan. 15, they’re 30th in the NHL at 71.3%, better than only Detroit and San Jose in that span. A lot of good has happened under Craig Berube’s watch, and the Leafs would hate to see their playoff hopes derailed because they can’t kill penalties.

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The news

The Sabres are missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for an NHL-record 14th year in a row. Buffalo has not played in a post-season game since April 26, 2011, when it lost in Game 7 of the first round against the Philadelphia Flyers … Assuming Anthony Stolarz starts in goal for the Leafs, it would give him a nice break before he’s in net for Game 1 of the first round, as Joseph Woll probably would get the final start of the regular season at home against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday … Neither the Leafs nor the Sabres practised on Monday.

The quote

“It has been a good back-and-forth. At different times of the year, we both have stepped up when needed and I think that’s pretty awesome. When you have two guys that are able to play and able to help the team, it’s pretty nice. He’s a hell of a goalie so I’m just happy to be out there with him.”

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— Joseph Woll on the tandem with Anthony Stolarz

The poll

Which of the Eastern Conference teams that did not make the playoffs this year will have the best chance of going to the post-season a year from now?

1. Buffalo
2. Detroit
3. Pittsburgh
4. Boston

The projected Leafs lineup

Forwards

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner

Max Domi-John Tavares-William Nylander

Nick Robertson-Pontus Holmberg-Bobby McMann

Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Calle Jarnkrok

Defence

Morgan Rielly-Philippe Myers

Simon Benoit-Chris Tanev

Dakota Mermis-Brandon Carlo

Goal

Anthony Stolarz

Joseph Woll

The injuries

TOR: D Jake McCabe (undisclosed), C David Kampf (upper body), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), F Max Pacioretty (undisclosed), D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (undisclosed).

BUF: F Jordan Greenway (lower body), F Tyson Kozak (hip), F Josh Norris (undisclosed), D Owen Power (undisclosed).

The prediction

Leafs win 5-2 to set a franchise record for most road wins in a season.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

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