Sabres' rise in standings adding new energy to rivalry with Maple Leafs

BUFFALO -- Fifteen months ago Jack Eichel told the world about the disdain his Buffalo Sabres and the Toronto Maple Leafs have for each other.

"It's part of the rivalry," the Sabres captain said. "We don't like them. They don't like us."
Eichel said recently his feelings haven't changed since he spoke at the NHL Player Media Tour in September 2017. What has is that the Sabres are enjoying far more success. The Maple Leafs have been trending in that direction for a couple of seasons now."It's good that we're getting competitive again," Eichel said last week. "The last few years it's been kind of one-sided. Now we're going in the right direction and it just adds to the rivalry."
To Eichel's point: The Sabres and Maple Leafs are among the top five in the NHL standings, adding spice to a rivalry that always had teeth because of geography. Buffalo and Toronto are separated by a 100-mile drive, the Canada-United States border and two rabid fan bases thirsting for any kind of playoff success.
The Sabres have not reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2011, last won a playoff series in 2007 and never have won the Stanley Cup. The Maple Leafs last won a playoff series in 2004, and haven't won the Stanley Cup since 1967. Given those tough times, it's easy to understand why they have not met in a postseason series since Buffalo eliminated Toronto in five games in the 1999 Eastern Conference Final.
Could that change this season? A potential Sabres-Maple Leafs playoff series has been a hot topic in each city leading up to their regular-season game at KeyBank Center on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TSN4, NHL.TV). If the season ended today, the Maple Leafs (19-8-0), second in the Atlantic Division, and the third-place Sabres (17-8-3) would meet in the Eastern Conference First Round.
"It's a little early to be predicting something like that," Eichel said. "We still have a lot of work to do. But you can understand why fans would be discussing that. I think it's cool because both teams' fan bases travel well to the other team's arena. When they're here there always are a lot of Toronto fans. When we go to Toronto there's always a lot of Buffalo fans who go up.
"Geographically we're pretty close. We play them a lot. It's always competitive and emotional."
No more so than the second period of a game March 25, 2017. It's a scene that remains etched in the minds of Maple Leafs and Sabres fans alike.
With the Maple Leafs gunning for a playoff spot and thousands of Toronto fans shoehorned into KeyBank Center, Eichel scored his second goal in what would be a 5-2 Sabres victory. As part of his gleeful celebration, he slammed the glass with his glove, knowing there was a Maple Leafs supporter in a blue-and-white Toronto jersey sitting on the other side of the pane.
For Eichel, there are plenty of reasons to be charged up, not the least of which is the fact that his close friend Auston Matthews is coming to town.

Eichel and Matthews were teammates with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program under-18 team, and played together for the U.S. at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship and for Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey 2016. But there is little doubt both badly want to beat each other.
Motivation for Eichel is plentiful. Matthews, 21, has been to the playoffs in each of his two NHL seasons; Eichel, 22, never has played a postseason game. Also: Eichel and Sabres fans watched the Maple Leafs select Matthews No. 1 at the 2016 NHL Draft, which was held at KeyBank Center.
Among the several thousands of Maple Leafs fans expected to make the trip to Buffalo will be friends of Sabres forward Jeff Skinner, 26, who grew up in the Toronto-area community of Markham.
Skinner's friends have come to see him play at Scotiabank Arena for years. Only this time their buddy will be playing for the Sabres, spawning a dilemma of who to cheer for.
"This time I think it's to watch the Sabres," said Skinner, who was traded to Buffalo by the Carolina Hurricanes on Aug. 2.
Skinner said he could sense the Sabres-Maple Leafs rivalry while growing up.
"I think you're definitely aware," he said. "Especially for me. I'm from the Toronto area.

"We had a preseason game here against Toronto and there was a bit of extra energy in the building. Guys in here talk about it. With any rivalry, with two teams so close together, there's added excitement. We've got to keep adding to our game. It's going to be a good challenge."
The game features two of the hottest goal scorers in the League this season. Skinner has 19 goals in his past 21 games and is tied for second in the NHL with 20, one behind Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine; Matthews has 13 goals in 13 games this season.
The Sabres have been wobbling a bit recently however. A 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Monday was their third straight (0-2-1) after tying a Buffalo record with 10 consecutive wins.
If the Sabres are battling fatigue, the Maple Leafs are battling history. The Sabres are 70-28-2 with six ties against the Maple Leafs in games played in Buffalo.
Toronto coach Mike Babcock will be in the mood to change that.
"Good for them," Babcock said of the Sabres' early success. "They have done a good job, they have real good players and are an exciting team to watch. We look forward to playing them."