Maple Leafs emphasize ‘emotion’ ahead of Sabres showdown

The Toronto Maple Leafs will visit the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night in a clash of teams that just completed contrasting eight-game streaks.

The Maple Leafs snapped their eight-game losing streak (0-6-2) Thursday with a 6-4 home victory over the Anaheim Ducks despite losing Auston Matthews to a lower-body injury late in the second period.

Matthew Knies had a goal and three assists to help the Maple Leafs to their first win since the Olympic break, a stretch that has put them out of serious playoff contention.