By ,
Published May 02, 2016
(SportsNetwork.com) - The Buffalo Sabres will try to rebound from one of their many rough losses this season when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs for Wednesday's Atlantic Division battle.
The Sabres, who are last in the Atlantic and NHL standings, have lost four straight in regulation. They were competitive in the first three setbacks before getting slammed 6-1 at Washington on Saturday.
Although it scored the game's first goal just 2:35 into the contest, Buffalo was clearly overmatched by the Capitals, who rattled off six unanswered goals and outshot the Sabres by a wide 45-17 margin.
Johan Larsson provided the lone offense for the Sabres. Matt Hackett took the loss, pulled after allowing four goals on 23 shots in almost 34 minutes. Anders Lindback finished up yielding two scores on 22 shots.
The setback marked Buffalo's largest margin of defeat since losing 7-0 at Minnesota on Jan. 15.
Buffalo coach Ted Nolan cited fatigue as a reason for his club's poor performance against the Capitals. The Sabres played Friday night in Ottawa before visiting D.C. the following day.
"Playing last night, getting in at three in the morning, I just felt our fatigue really clicked in the second period," said Nolan. "We didn't seem to have any kind of legs underneath us, and they took advantage."
The Sabres, who were sellers at last week's trade deadline, haven't won since beating visiting Vancouver on Feb. 26.
Buffalo is 0-4 on a five-game road trip and just 7-24-2 as the guest this season. The Sabres haven't fared well in Toronto in recent years either, losing five straight and 10 of the last 11 at Air Canada Center.
The Sabres did end a three-game overall skid against Toronto with a 6-2 home win on Nov. 15.
The Maple Leafs, who sit seventh out of eight teams in the Atlantic, are on a three-game losing streak. They hope to end the slide tonight in the finale of a three-game homestand.
Toronto was slammed 6-1 by St. Louis on Saturday before falling in overtime Monday against the New York Islanders.
The Leafs scored the first two goals against the Islanders and led 3-1 after James van Riemsdyk scored his 23rd of the season at 6:06 of the third. However, New York would even the score by the end of regulation and then won it on John Tavares' tally just 22 seconds into OT.
Van Riemsdyk also had an assist, while David Booth and Peter Holland each added a goal. Jonathan Bernier allowed all four scores on 44 shots in the loss.
"They've developed a lot of good young players and they're a real threat out there any night," said Toronto forward Joffrey Lupul about the Islanders. "They're right there with anyone else in the league."
Toronto center Nazem Kadri was scratched from the game because he was late to a team meeting. It is uncertain if interim coach Peter Horachek will put Kadri back in the lineup tonight.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/maple-leafs-sabres-clash-in-toronto