Toronto ranks third in the Atlantic Division with 70 points - 10 ahead of the Sabres - following their 4-2 win in Ottawa on Saturday night. Auston Matthews scored his 42nd goal of the season, giving him a share of the NHL lead.
The Maple Leafs rank third in the NHL with an average of 3.54 goals per game, an attack anchored by one of the league's premier one-two punches at center in Matthews and John Tavares.
With Buffalo's forward group nearing full health for the first time since November, Krueger said he feels comfortable rolling four lines versus worrying about specific matchups. That may not have been the case as recently as last week, when the Sabres were still dealing with injuries to Victor Olofsson and Kyle Okposo.
"From Sweden to now, it's the first time we're sitting at the lineup feeling comfortable with four lines that can play against anybody in the other group," Krueger said.
"… I think we've done really well where we've been able to concentrate on rhythm and pace and let lines share responsibilities like playing up against Matthews or Tavares tonight, two of the elite lines in the whole National Hockey League. But we feel all four lines can do that today, so that's the different feeling since just a few games now that we have back."
Tonight will be the fourth and final meeting between the Sabres and Maple Leafs this season. The Sabres are 1-1-1 through the first three contests, with the lone win having come at KeyBank Center on Nov. 29. Players spoke yesterday about the raised stakes surrounding this game, with Buffalo looking to chip away at its deficit in the standings with 23 games remaining.
"Because of our situation right now and the opportunity for us to inch closer and to put some pressure on them, it's an experience for us and it's an experience for a commitment to our game and who we want to be and how we want to play," Krueger said. "We're excited about it and I'm sure it's going to be a strong game from both teams."
Frederik Andersen will start in net for the Maple Leafs.
