Sabres Slashes: Weekly Preview 3/11/18 - 3/17/18

The Buffalo Sabres veteran players will look to finish out the stretch run strong, while the young kids will look to make an impression for next season.

The Sabres only play twice this week and have off until Thursday night when the Toronto Maple Leafs come to town. On Saturday they will take on the struggling and underachieving Chicago Blackhawks.

Buffalo will look to steal two points from the Maple Leafs when they come to town on Thursday night. The Sabres need to limit their mistakes with and without the puck since the Leafs have the ability to finish. Buffalo will want to play the game with some discipline since their penalty kill has been in the bottom of the League for a majority of the season. The Sabres need to get the first goal of the game and keep attacking along with getting shots on net since Freddie Andersen has been giving up some goals lately. Buffalo will need a solid 60 minute effort if they hope to gain two points in the standings.

The Leafs need to find a way to win in Buffalo. They lost lost 5-3 on March 5, which has been the only time the two teams have met so far this year. The Maple Leafs needs to get off to a good start by getting pucks on net, getting scoring chances, pressuring the Sabres players into turning the puck over. Toronto will want to be engaged in this game from the drop of the puck. The Leafs will want to get the first goal of the game and take the home crowd out of the game. Toronto will want to establish their forecheck and cycle game early and often in this one to keep the Sabres hemmed in their own zone.

On Saturday, the Blackhawks will take on the Sabres. It will be a battle of two teams that have really struggled this year. Buffalo will need to take advantage of a struggling road penalty kill of the Blackhawks. The Sabres want to get off to a fast start and get plenty of pucks on net since goaltending hasn't exactly been Chicago's strong suit with Corey Crawford sidelined. They should try to have the lead entering the final period since they are 15-0-5 when leading after two periods. The Sabres need to get a good game from the starting goaltender.

The Blackhawks need to take advantage of playing a team below them in the standings, who could still be without their best player. Chicago needs to come out with a ton of energy to start the game and be willing to grind it out. The Blackhawks should try to take advantage of a not-so-hot penalty kill of the Sabres. Chicago needs to play a good defensive game and have the goalie make some saves. The Blackhawks need to get the first goal of the game.