This Atlantic Division rivalry game brings the surging Buffalo Sabres to Scotiabank Arena to face the inconsistent Toronto Maple Leafs in a key Eastern Conference matchup. Buffalo, riding strong recent form and goaltending, looks to continue climbing the standings against a Toronto team aiming to leverage home ice and star power to snap out of mid-season struggles.
Event Details
Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET (4:00 PM PT)
Broadcast/Streaming: ESPN+, Sportsnet (Canada), MSG Western New York (local Buffalo), NHL Power Play
Records: Buffalo Sabres (29-17-5, 4th in Atlantic Division), Toronto Maple Leafs (24-19-9, 11th in Eastern Conference / lower Atlantic standing)
Injury Report
Buffalo Sabres: No major new injuries highlighted in recent reports. Core players like Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, and goaltender Alex Lyon (on a hot streak) appear available. Depth is solid following recent shutout wins.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Multiple concerns persist from the season’s injury woes.
Anthony Stolarz (G): Conditioning loan to AHL after upper-body injury (out since November, recent rehab).
Potential lingering issues with forwards like William Nylander (groin rehab noted earlier, off-ice but status uncertain).
Other historical absences (e.g., Chris Tanev, Dakota Joshua, Brandon Carlo in prior contexts) may impact depth, though core stars (Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Matthew Knies) expected to play.
Toronto’s lineup has been inconsistent due to ongoing health management.
Key Player Matchups
Top Lines: Buffalo’s Tage Thompson / Alex Tuch duo (high-scoring threats, Thompson nearing 200 career goals) vs. Toronto’s Auston Matthews / Mitch Marner line (elite scoring, Matthews dominant). Both units can explode offensively.
Defense: Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin (all-around star, power-play driver) vs. Maple Leafs’ Morgan Rielly or backups (if depth thinned). Dahlin’s puck-moving could exploit any Toronto gaps.
Goaltending: Buffalo’s Alex Lyon (tied franchise record with 9 straight wins, recent shutout vs. Islanders) vs. Toronto’s Joseph Woll or Anthony Stolarz alternative (if available). Lyon holds clear edge in current form.
Key X-Factor: Sabres’ momentum and road underdog value vs. Leafs’ home crowd and star talent. If Toronto’s power play (low-ranked) clicks, they stay competitive; Buffalo’s balanced attack and defense (mid-tier goals against) should control tempo.
Recent Team Form
Sabres: Hot streak with strong January play. Recent 5-0 shutout over Islanders (January 24/25), tying Lyon for franchise wins streak. 7-2-1 in last 10 (80% points), offense ranks 11th (3.3 GPG), defense solid (3.0 allowed). 16-4 SU in recent 20-game sample.
Maple Leafs: Inconsistent mid-season. Recent defensive lapses (allowing 3.4 GPG in last 10), offense top-10 but unsustainable without health. Struggling to string wins, lower standings position reflects form dips.
Series History
Buffalo has struggled historically vs. Toronto (1-6 SU in last 7 meetings per trends), but recent games competitive. Leafs hold edge in rivalry, but Sabres’ current surge could flip script. Games often high-scoring (combined ~6.6 GPG this season).
Betting Trends
Sabres strong SU recently (high win % in last 10). Total OVER trends (Toronto 30/52 games over 6.5; Buffalo 24 games over). Leafs vulnerable defensively at home in recent outings.
Game Odds
Buffalo Sabres 6.5
Toronto Maple Leafs – 118
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, January 26, 2026
