The set-up: The Toronto Maple Leafs went 13-2-0 over a 15-game stretch from Jan. 24 through Feb. 24 but 0-2-1 since, after falling 5-2 against Washington in a Stadium Series contest at the Naval Academy on Saturday. Still, the 39-21-7 Maple Leafs' 85 points have them solidly in third-place in the Atlantic Division, 15 points clear of the fourth-place Florida Panthers. The Maple Leafs will take on the Buffalo Sabres, who have shown some signs of life lately with three wins in their last five contests. However, the Eastern Conference-worst Sabres are 20-34-11 and their 51 points are just one better than Arizona, which sits in the Western Conference 'basement.'

Toronto: "(The Capitals) look at us and they still think we're kids," Toronto head coach Mike Babcock told reporters of the team that knocked the Maple Leafs out last postseason. "And it looked like we were kids here (Saturday). I thought they smacked us around and forechecked. I didn't think we executed at all." Toronto likely will be without All-Star Auston Matthews (28 goals & 50 points in 53 games) for a fifth straight game as he struggles with an upper body injury. However, Matthews has been skating and could return to the lineup soon. Mitch Marner, who tops the team with 53 points, has been kept off the scoresheet in back-to-back games, after recording three goals and four assists over his previous three contests. Frederik Andersen (32-17-5, 2.74 GAA & .920 save percentage) has been one of the team's best players but may be showing fatigue after allowing a total of 14 goals in his last four outings, including five on Saturday.

Buffalo: The Sabres knocked off NHL-best Tampa Bay last week before ending a two-game trip to the Sunshine State with a 4-1 setback at Florida on Thursday. Leading scorer Jack Eichel (22 goals & 53 points) has been out since Feb. 10 with an ankle injury but could be practicing soon. Ryan O'Reilly has notched an assist in each of his last three games and sits three points away from his fifth straight season, and sixth overall, with at least 50. Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen has registered four points in his last five games to push his season total to 31.

The pick: In an odd scheduling quirk, the Maple Leafs and the Sabres meet Monday night for the first of four meetings over their last 15 contests (29-day span). Backup Chad Johnson will return in net for the Sabres tonight, after a disappointing outing by Robin Lehner against the Panthers over the weekend. Johnson is 6-10-3 (3.18 GAA & .896 SP) and he's really no match for Toronto's Andersen and his 2.74 GAA & .920 SP. Make Toronto an 8* play.