NHL On Tap: Maple Leafs, Sabres face off in Heritage Classic preview

Welcome to the NHL On Tap. Three NHL.com writers will share what they are most looking forward to on the schedule each day. Today, their choices from the four games on Wednesday.

Toronto, Buffalo play Heritage Classic preview

The Toronto Maple Leafs return home to play the Buffalo Sabres (7:30 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, MSG-B, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) in an indoor preview of the 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario, on March 13. Toronto (35-14-4) seeks its fourth straight win following a 5-3 victory at the Washington Capitals on Monday. The Maple Leafs scored 18 goals in the three wins, which included a 10-7 victory against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, but have allowed 11 goals in that stretch. Mitchell Marner will play his 400th game in the NHL. The Toronto forward has scored 11 points in his past five games, including four goals in the win against Detroit, and was named the NHL First Star of the Month for February after scoring 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in 12 games. Buffalo (16-30-8) looks to end a six-game losing streak when it has been outscored 28-12. Sabres forward Tage Thompson has scored six goals in his past five games, including a hat trick in a 5-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. 19. -- William Douglas, staff writer

Buchnevich set for return to New York

Pavel Buchnevich will play his first game for the St. Louis Blues at Madison Square Garden (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, NHL LIVE) since the forward was acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers on July 23 for forward Sammy Blais and a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Buchnevich has scored 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) in 46 games this season for St. Louis (32-14-6), two from his NHL career high set last season, after playing his first five seasons with New York (195 points; 79 goals, 116 assists in 301 games). Buchnevich's return comes amid a downturn for the Rangers offense. New York (33-15-5) has scored 12 goals in six games after being off for nearly two weeks around the NHL All-Star break. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

Standings become focus for Kings, Stars

The calendar has flipped to March and the bid to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs from Western Conference intensifies when the Los Angeles Kings visit the Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. ET; BSSW, BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Kings (29-18-7) are second in the Pacific Division but four points ahead of the Anaheim Ducks, who are fifth and outside of a wild card into the postseason. The Stars (29-20-3) are fifth in the Central Division and hold the second wild card in a jammed-up race for playoff spots. Los Angeles was 6-2-0 in February but is coming off a 7-0 home loss to the Boston Bruins on Monday that ended a five-game winning streak. The Kings are starting a four-game road trip. The Stars were 6-3-1 in February and are 4-1-1 in their past six. This is the rubber match for this season with each team having a win at home: Dallas won 3-2 in overtime Oct. 22, and Los Angeles won 4-0 on Dec. 9. -- Tim Campbell, staff writer

Wednesday schedule

Buffalo Sabres at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m. ET (SN, TVAS, MSG-B, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Auston Matthews is tied with Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers for the NHL lead with 37 goals and has scored four in his past four games. The Sabres went 2-7-1 in February.
St. Louis Blues at New York Rangers, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT, NHL LIVE)
The Blues are on a four-game winning streak and are 6-0-1 in their past seven. Their 13 wins since Feb. 12 are tied with the Bruins for second behind the Calgary Flames and Avalanche (14 apiece). The Rangers have earned a point in six of their past eight games (5-2-1) and have won seven of 12 but have also lost two straight.
Los Angeles Kings at Dallas Stars, 8:30 p.m. ET (BSSW, BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Center Anze Kopitar has scored 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) in his past 12 games for the Kings, who could get coach Todd McLellan back from NHL COVID-19 protocol. Stars goalie Jake Oettinger has won six of his past eight starts (6-1-1, 1.71 goals-against average, .943 save percentage). His eight wins since Jan. 24 are tied for second in the NHL with Darcy Kuemper of the Avalanche and Frederik Andersen of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Nashville Predators at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m. ET (TNT, TVAS, SN, SN360, NHL LIVE)
The Predators are coming off a 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Saturday. The Kraken, who defeated the Predators 4-3 on Oct. 14 for the first win in their history, have lost seven in a row.