"For me, it is more about some awareness. We gave up a couple of goals off the weak side there, with two defensemen coming in and scoring. That is our weak-side forward awareness there a little bit. For me, it's still the odd-man rushes and how they occur at times. We did a better job of it, but we have to improve on it."
"They did some good things. There is still room for improvement. I saw more of the better Knies that I saw last year. I think there is more for Maccelli there; he made some plays, but I think he is still looking off the first play that could be made and is trying to make a better play. I think it's just a confidence thing with him. I was encouraged by some of the things I saw from that line."
Toronto hosts Buffalo in the second game of a home-and-home at 5:00 p.m. EST, seeking to stop a four-game losing streak. Coach Craig Berube identified lapses in weak-side forward awareness, odd-man rushes, and poor stick detail as reasons for recent defensive breakdowns. Berube praised the Knies-Tavares-Maccelli line for positive plays but noted room for improvement and that Maccelli needs confidence to make earlier plays. Berube said goaltender Cayden Primeau has practiced well and is prepared for his second start. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff emphasized playing with pace and moving the puck and forwards out of the zone quicker.
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