Leafs @ Sabres - Dec. 4th, 7:30pm - TSN4, Fan 590

[Zee]

Buffalo is a team on the rise.

They had 6 straight years of top 10 picks, including three picks in the top 2.

So congrats, Buffalo, for being "on the rise".

You people are brutal.  Trying to throw a little love to western NY.

But why?

 

[Coco-puffs]

Nylander would've been up D+1 if not for the tire fire they deliberately kept him away from.
And when he did come up to close out the Great Tank season, he did get centre minutes (PA Parenteau + Hyman), and acquitted himself well.

Sure.  That doesn't mean, had he started the season at C, with zero time at C in a North American Pro League (remember, he played wing when he came over to the Marlies in 2014-2015), that he would have hit the ground running to start that season.  He probably needed that time with the Marlies to acquit himself well at the end of that year. 

Mittlestadt didn't get that kind of grooming.  From NCAA directly to NHL.  No other professional experience.  They haven't exactly put him in a situation to succeed compared to the way Nylander was handled.

 

[Highlander]

Buffalo is a team on the rise.

They had 6 straight years of top 10 picks, including three picks in the top 2.

So congrats, Buffalo, for being "on the rise".

You people are brutal.  Trying to throw a little love to western NY.

But why?

They invented Buffalo Wings, worth some kudo's

 

[ZBBM]

Buffalo is a team on the rise.

They had 6 straight years of top 10 picks, including three picks in the top 2.

So congrats, Buffalo, for being "on the rise".

You people are brutal.  Trying to throw a little love to western NY.

But why?

Well, because they are in fact on the rise (pace Nik  8)) and I kind of like the underdog.  Though I am perfectly happy to root for an overdog, and am glad that the Leafs, in terms of relative doggy positioning (ahem), are on top.  8) 8)

And I certainly am not extending my generosity to wishing them success on this particular night.

 

[Kin]

Nothing quite says "underdog" like failing your way into having success handed to you. It's like all of those underdog sons of billionaires who miraculously rise their way into becoming VP's at their dad's company.

 

[herman]

For funsies: Here's the drafted 1st rounders of each team in tonight's lineup

Drafted	Year	Leafs		Drafted	Year	Sabres
1	2016	Matthews		1	2018	Dahlin
4	2015	Marner		2	2015	Eichel
5	2012	Rielly		2	2014	Reinhart
7	2009	Kadri		8	2013	Ristolainen
21	2013	Gauthier		8	2017	Mittelstadt
				14	2012	Girgensons
				26	2008	Ennis*

* Playing for the other team

In the system:

Drafted	Year	Leafs		Drafted	Year	Sabres
8	2014	Nylander**		8	2016	Nylander
17	2017	Liljegren
29	2018	Sandin

** NHL regular

Buffalo has traded away 6 of their 1st round drafted players, from the 2008 draft to now.
Tyler Ennis (Pominville/Scandella), Tyler Myers (Kane/Bogosian), Zack Kassian (Hodgson), Mark Pysyk (Kulikov), Joel Armia (Kane/Bogosian), Mikhail Grigorenko (O'Reilly), and Nikita Zadurov (O'Reilly).

Toronto has traded away Tyler Biggs (with Kessel to PIT), Luke Schenn (for JvR), and released Stuart Percy from that same time frame.

 

[ZBBM]

Nothing quite says "underdog" like failing your way into having success handed to you. It's like all of those underdog sons of billionaires who miraculously rise their way into becoming VP's at their dad's company.

Nothing says "underdog" like coming from Buffalo, now does it?  Try to poke holes in *that,* Mr. Scoffy.

 

[cujo4ever]

I'm always happy to see the Sabres lose.

GO LEAFS GO!

 

[lc9]

Win all of the games.  Especially this one. 

 

[herman]

Tyler Ennis reunion tour continues.

 

[herman]

John Tavares with a zone exit and entry that was all lunch pail stick work solo through 4 Sabres. Not anywhere near as slick as Marner, or Nylander, but got the job done. That?s the John Tavares way.

 

[ZBBM]

Loving the lung demos from the crowd. Raucous.

 

[herman]

Johnsson is looking really good tonight. The frenetic pace suits him.

 

[lc9]

Dermott is good, needs to limit the turnovers.  He coughs it up too easily. 

 

[ZBBM]

Dermott served up a muffin there but Freddie bailed him out.

Sabres do look like a whole different squad, as per Ferraro.

 

[herman]

Matthews going in for a post-up in the paint is awesome.

Leafs are a bit too one-and-done though.

 

[cujo4ever]

Ron Hainsey has been just awful so far tonight. Chance after chance to get the puck out of his own zone and he can't get it done.

 

[ZBBM]

Ron Hainsey has been just awful so far tonight. Chance after chance to get the puck out of his own zone and he can't get it done.

True, but he's far from alone.  BUF has been the way better team.

 

[azzurri63]

Ferraro not sure if the Leafs expected the Sabres to come out this aggressive. Playing at home, coming off a loss and basically tied with the Leafs for points. How you expect them to come out?

 

[Zee]

Rope-a-dope baby they'll run out of gas