Buffalo @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 30, 2019 ) Buffalo 1, Toronto 2

Captain Jack Eichel aims to pull into a tie for the second-longest point streak in franchise history when the Buffalo Sabres continue their three-game road trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Eichel's 16-game point streak (15 goals, 14 assists) is one shy of a pair recorded by Dave Andreychuk, and two in back of Gilbert Perreault.

Eichel collected two goals and two assists as Buffalo split a home-and-home series with Toronto last month and had one of each in Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Islanders. "I thought we competed our hearts out. I thought we played really well," said the 23-year-old Eichel, who was selected as the NHL's Third Star of the Week for the second straight Monday. While Eichel excelled in the two meetings with the Maple Leafs, Mitch Marner was unable to take part in the home-and-home set as he was in the midst of an 11-game absence due to an ailing ankle. The 22-year-old Marner has returned with a flourish and extended his point streak to four games (two goals, five assists) by scoring a goal in Saturday's 4-1 victory versus Edmonton.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, TVAS, TSN4 (Toronto)

ABOUT THE SABRES (16-11-7): While the Sabres have been generating conversation with their spirited play of late, Eichel and coach Ralph Krueger were more interested in talking about the NFL's Buffalo Bills securing a postseason berth following practice on Monday. "There's a lot of parallels right now between the Bills and Sabres," Krueger said. "(Bills coach Sean McDermott) and I are passionate here to get the sports community back on the track it deserves to be on for the passion that's in the area. It's a lot of fun. Both of us are having a lot of fun in our work." Rookie Victor Olofsson has been having plenty of fun of late, with his power-play goal on Saturday serving as his 20th point (eight goals, 12 assists) in his last 19 games.

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (16-14-4): Tyson Barrie returned to practice and skated with top pair defenseman Morgan Rielly on Monday, two days removed from exiting the game after blocking a shot with his ankle. "I'm still a bit sore, some swelling, but was able to practice today with very little issue. So should be good (Tuesday)," the 28-year-old Barrie said. Rielly, who set up a goal in Toronto's 6-4 setback in Buffalo on Nov. 29, also had a helper on Saturday to tie Marner for the team lead in assists (19).

OVERTIME

1. Toronto G Frederik Andersen sports an 11-3-0 record in 15 career encounters with Buffalo after making 29 saves in a 2-1 overtime victory on Nov. 30.

2. Buffalo sent C Casey Mittelstadt to Rochester of the American Hockey League after the former first-round pick was a healthy scratch in three of the last four contests and mustered two points in his past 21 games played.

3. Maple Leafs C Zach Hyman has answered a four-game point drought with four goals and one assist in his last five contests.

PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 4, Sabres 2