The Leafs had their first regulation-time loss in 10 games against the New York Rangers on Tuesday.
The Leafs had their first regulation-time loss in 10 games against the New York Rangers on Tuesday.
BUFFALO — The Toronto Maple Leafs took another day off from the rink to recover on Wednesday before they get set to visit the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Thursday.
Toronto coming off a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the New York Rangers 5-2 on Tuesday.
Martin Jones made consecutive starts in goal for the first time this season and had 31 saves in the game. Although his .886 save percentage looks bad on paper, he really couldn't be faulted for three of four goals given up as a lot of weird bounces and deflections went against Toronto.
There was, however, one save he wished he made.
With the game tied 2-2, Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider closed in on the veteran goalie and beat him five-hole to give New York a lead they'd never give up.
"For me third goal is the disappointing one," Jones said of his game. "I’d like to play that a little differently. At that time of the game, who knows what could have happened after that."
Jones joined the Maple Leafs in late August, signing a one-year, $875,000 contract. He's been thrust into NHL duty after initially getting called up when Ilya Samsonov fell ill. Later, he was thrust into action after Joseph Woll sustained a high-ankle injury against the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 7. Since that time, he's outperformed Samsonov, who started the season as the team's No. 1 goaltender.
Although that third goal given up by Jones was pretty bad, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe was quick to point out mistakes that were made, beginning with John Tavares losing the faceoff, which led to Schneider's chance.
It was also a tremendous read from the Rangers defenseman.
"I just thought he was going to pull it to the middle and I kind of went for a little poke check," Jones explained. "Credit to him, he had his head up and saw it and slipped it five-hole."
UPDATE: The Leafs held a full morning skate KeyBank Center on Thursday before taking on the struggling Sabres. Ilya Samsonov will get the nod in goal for Toronto.
"He's got to play," Keefe said of the decision to start Samsonov. "We've got to get him going here. That's really it."
Samsonov last played on Dec. 14 where he allowed six goals on 35 shots in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
There will be no lineup changes at the forward position, but TJ Brodie will move down to the second pair to skate alongside Jake McCabe.
Morgan Rielly and Timothy Liljegren will be paired together again while Simon Benoit entered the lineup and William Lagesson will be a healthy scratch.
The Sabres have three wins in their last 11 games and sit second-last in the Atlantic Division. After missing the playoffs for 12 consecutive years, this was supposed to be the year of change. Instead, Sabres fans turned up the heat on head coach Don Granato with ‘FIRE DON-NIE’ chants. `
Jeff Skinner has been out since Dec. 13 with an upper-body injury but took part in Sabres practice on Wednesday on their top line alongside Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch.
Skinner's possible return is still to be determined.
Related
'We Had Discussions’: Justin Williams Reveals How Close He Was to Joining the Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews Continues Scoring Tear, but Several Deflection Goals Lead Rangers Over Maple Leafs
News from THN.com
Are Big Changes Coming for the Columbus Blue Jackets?
The Hockey News Pre-Game Show: What's Next for the Senators? Can the Avalanche Win It All? And More
Plus Minus: Wild Bench Fleury in Pittsburgh, No Takers Yet for Largest Hockey Stick