Maybe the
Buffalo Sabres should save a little something for when the pucks drop for real.
The Sabres have been the NHL's top team during the first week of the preseason. They remained perfect with a 3-2 victory against Toronto on Saturday night, completing a home-and-home sweep.
Christian Ehrhoff scored his second goal of the preseason, and Ehrhoff,
Drew Stafford and
Luke Adam all scored power-play goals for the Sabres (4-0-0).
"We made some nice plays," coach Lindy Ruff said.
Mikhail Grabovski scored twice against
Jhonas Enroth on rebounds and rookie hopeful
Matt Frattin added two assists, but it wasn't enough for Toronto, which lost 2-1 at home on Friday.
Stafford gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead 6:19 in with his first goal of the preseason. Grabovski tied it at 13:27, but Ehrhoff put Buffalo back in front with a shot from the right point at 12:55 of the second. Ehrhoff leads Buffalo with four points.
Adam beat diving goalie
Jonas Gustavsson at 3:13 of the third period after cross-ice passes from
Thomas Vanek and
Brad Boyes. Toronto got within 3-2 on Grabovski's second goal at 12:21.
The Sabres outshot Toronto 37-21 after surrendering 34 shots in Friday's win.
"I was disappointed with some of our play in our own end in Toronto. I thought as a team we played a lot better in our own end tonight, which was the focus for most of the game," Ruff said.
The Leafs, who don’t play again until Tuesday, will spend Sunday paring their roster.
"Tonight was a last look for a few guys," coach Ron Wilson said. "They helped make the decision a little easier."
Wilson said he hopes to have center Matt Lombardi, who missed almost all of last season due to the effects of a concussion sustained while playing for Nashville, ready to go by opening night -- even if he doesn't get into a preseason game.
"We still have three games left. I haven't even thought of the lineups. First, we've got to get our numbers down -- that's a priority for tomorrow.
Before the game, the Sabres placed forward
Ales Kotalik and defenseman
Shaone Morrisonn on waivers -- neither move was a surprise Buffalo’s salary cap situation. The Sabres entered training camp $3.6 million over the $64.3 million salary cap -- Kotalik makes $3 million and Morrisonn has a cap hit of $2.075, so their departures will put Buffalo $1.5 million under the cap.