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TSN Toronto Maple Leafs Reporter

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The Toronto Maple Leafs’ record in Buffalo this decade has been abysmal to say the least.

The Maple Leafs are 2-17 and riding a seven-game losing streak at the newly named KeyBank Center. But given 14 of the 23 players on Toronto’s active roster have been with the team for a season or less, this division rivalry is long overdue for renewal.

“There was no rivalry [between us] last year. We were both bad,” head coach Mike Babcock said. “I think as the teams get better you have a chance…We’re so close to rekindling that. Right now they’re trying to build a program; we’re trying to build a program.”

Regardless of who has come in and out of the Maple Leafs’ lineup, the team’s difficulties in Buffalo have been a constant talking point.

“Every single year it seems we talk about this, but it’s a new team, new page,” said Nazem Kadri. “…Obviously our history in the past hasn’t been great but we feel like we’re a dynamic group and we can win on any given night. Buffalo’s a good team. We’ll have to push hard and get a good start.”

Blue and white sweaters appear in large swathes in the crowd every time these teams meet across the border. The Leafs enter the game looking for their first back-to-back wins of the season against a Sabres club that has won three straight.

The clash won’t be taken lightly on either side, regardless of the lopsided history.

“[Our success] is a good stat to have for us, but even last year, there was never an easy game,” said Sabres centre Ryan O’Reilly. “I didn’t know much about [the rivalry] until last year when I first came here, just the way the building was and the intensity of the fans going back and forth. Being from Toronto, it’s a fun rivalry to be a part of.”

Maple Leafs can use Cubs’ success as inspiration

The spectacle of the Chicago Cubs winning their first World Series in 108 years on Wednesday night stirred thoughts for at least one Maple Leaf about what halting Toronto’s 49-year (and counting) Stanley Cup drought would be like.

“Initially, that’s exactly what I thought – what it would be like in the city of Toronto,” Kadri said. “I’m sure there are a couple riots in downtown Chicago. Hopefully no one’s getting hurt… hopefully it’s just a joyful thing.”

Toronto is nursing the longest cold streak in the league when it comes to Cup Final appearances (they haven't been since 1967). Getting back there is undoubtedly the club’s biggest goal, and the Cubs and Cleveland Indians are examples of how patience with the process can pay off.

“You have to earn the right to feel like that,” Babcock said. “Once you build a real good franchise, in this league, if you can do it year after year, once in a while you won’t be injured, things will go right and you’ll have it. The first thing we have to do is build a franchise and not get ahead of ourselves. Whatever you’re talking about after 10 games, we’re just a work in progress trying to get better.”

“You don’t really write that stuff; it’s pretty incredible,” Auston Matthews said of the Cubs’ win. “[Winning the Stanley Cup] is obviously the main goal here. It’s what we’re trying to do. We’re still in the middle of this rebuilding process. We’re a young team, but hopefully down the line here soon it’s definitely a goal for this team.”

Morning skate notes

- As is customary with Babcock after a winning performance, there appeared to be no lineup changes ahead of Thursday night’s tilt. Frank Corrado will be a healthy scratch for the 11th straight game, along with Peter Holland and Seth Griffith.

- Matthews is making his return to the city where he was drafted first overall on June 24, after missing out on Toronto’s preseason game there in September. “This building brings back some pretty good memories from the summer, so it’s exciting to be back,” he said.

- Continuing to put his slow start behind him, goaltender Frederik Andersen will get the start in net, against Robin Lehner for the Sabres. Andersen has posted a .944 save-percentage over his last three games. “He’s enjoying being him and doing what he does,” Babcock said. “He’s starting to give our team confidence, which is great.”

- It has been four games since Matthews registered a point on his line with William Nylander and Zach Hyman. While it may not show on the score sheet, that trio generated more opportunities than any other in the third period of Tuesday’s win, and Matthews is confident it’s something they will build on. “I think it’s only a matter of time before we have a big game ourselves,” he said. “Just have to keep chipping away; keep going at it and a couple of these chances are bound to go in.”