The Sabres (41-16-5), who have owned the best record in the Eastern Conference all along, look to retake the overall points-lead in the NHL with a win. The Nashville Predators (88) currently hold that rank with one more point than the Sabres have. The Predators have played in two more games than the Sabres have.

Coming off of Saturday’s 6-5 defeat at the hands of the Ottawa Senators, the Sabres look to add another road victory to their already impressive record away from the friendly confines of HSBC Arena. Buffalo is 19-9-2 in an opponent’s rink, tops in the NHL.

In Saturday’s game, Buffalo fought valiantly but came up short after Senator’s center Jason Spezza scored a power play goal to give Ottawa the 6-5 victory. The Sabres had fought back from a 4-1 second period deficit to tie the score at 5-5 before Spezza’s goal.

“I thought our guys were fearless,” Lindy Ruff said following Saturday’s game. “We went out and we were going through people, they were going through people. It turned out to be a tough hockey game at times. It turned out to be an exciting game.”

Buffalo faced Ottawa with an injury-depleted roster, and will continue to play with one until the end of the regular season. Eight regular players, most notably co-captain Chris Drury and Maxim Afinogenov, are out of the lineup. The situation has giving Ruff the ability to test some unproven guys and prospects that normally wouldn’t get an opportunity.

“I thought both teams were trying to be physical,” Ruff said. “But I am so impressed when we can play two rookies against their top line and be within minutes of at least tying the game. There’s no shame in that room.”

Toronto (30-24-9) played last night, a loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Toronto still sits at 10th place in the Eastern Conference with 69 points, but is only two points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for the final playoff spot. If Buffalo can maintain their strangle hold on the top of the conference, the 8th seed will face them to begin the playoffs.

Goaltender Andrew Raycroft allowed five goals on 16 shots before being pulled 12:24 into the second period. After Sheldon Souray blasted a slap shot past Raycroft to put the Canadiens ahead 5-2, Toronto coach Paul Maurice had seen enough.

“I didn't think I was horrible out there,” Raycroft said. “I just couldn't find a way to get in front of enough of them.”

Alex Steen scored Toronto’s fourth goal 4:40 into the final period, but the Maple Leafs couldn’t manage anything after that.

When last these two geographic rivals last met in the Air Canada Centre, goaltender Martin Biron made 32 saves for a 4-3 victory Jan. 6.  Now-injured forward Ales Kotalik scored the game winning goal in the second period. Earlier in the game, he assisted on a Drury goal.

However, Toronto came right back Jan. 11 and beat the Sabres in HSBC Arena for the second time this season, winning 4-2. Biron lost this game, making 20 stops on 24 shots. Jeff O’Neill scored two goals for the Maple Leafs and finished the game +3.

The season series between the two is even at 2-2.

Buffalo will be back at the Air Canada Centre March 3, for the first of three March meetings between the division foes to close out the regular season series, including a home-and-home set on the 23 and 24.

Fun Fact of the Game:
Buffalo’s first regulation loss of the season came at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs Nov. 4.