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Game 3 - Leafs vs. Sabres, Neuvirth to see action in Buffalo

September 20, 2019, 6:55 PM ET [222 Comments]
Mike Augello
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The battle for roster spots will become a little clearer after this weekend, as the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Buffalo Sabres at Scotiabank Arena on Friday and at the Key Bank Center on Saturday. The Leafs are 0-2 in the exhibition schedule after 3-1 and 4-3 losses to Ottawa earlier in the week and hope to get in the win column against their division rival.



The majority of the lineup that played on Wednesday in Kanata will start on Friday, with Auston Matthews centering William Nylander and Andreas Johnsson. Based on the line combos at the morning skate, the duo of Ilya Mikheyev and Alex Kerfoot will be joined by Pontus Aberg, while the other units (Kenny Agostino-Tyler Gaudet-Dmytro Timashov and Colt Conrad/Rich Clune-Nick Shore-Matt Read) will feature forwards battling for fourth line jobs or those bound for the AHL Toronto Marlies.

Morgan Rielly will partner with Cody Ceci for the second straight game, providing more evidence that the Leafs leading defensive scorer will be paired with the former Senator to start the season. 2018 first rounder Rasmus Sandin has moved back to his natural left side and paired with Martin Marincin, while either Kristians Rubins-Timothy Liljegren or Teemu Kivihalme-Mac Hollowell make up the bottom pairing.

Frederik Andersen will start for Toronto with Michael Hutchinson as his backup. Veteran goalie Michal Neuvirth practiced on Friday and indicated that he will play two periods in Buffalo on Saturday.

“It’s a huge opportunity, such a great team (in Toronto).” Neuvirth said. “I’m focusing on myself, trying to prepare the best I can and obviously it’s a big game for everyone.”

Neuvirth has struggled with injury problems the last two seasons and gave credit to the Leafs medical staff in getting him ready, but the 31-year-old has to prove he can stay healthy to compete with Hutchinson and get signed to a contract.

The group featuring Mitch Marner and John Tavares will play in Buffalo. At practice on Friday, head coach Mike Babcock shifted veteran Jason Spezza to right wing and will play him on the fourth line with Frederik Gauthier at center.

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