Game Preview | 5 things to know ahead of Sabres at Maple Leafs

TORONTO - Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to make his season debut for the Sabres tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.
Luukkonen was the first goaltender off the ice following the morning skate, signaling his first NHL start since January 11. He is 6-3-0 this season for Rochester.
The Sabres recalled the 23-year-old on Thursday given the absence of Eric Comrie, who sustained a lower-body injury in Ottawa on Wednesday and is expected to miss multiple weeks.
Tonight's game is set to begin at 7 p.m. on MSG and WGR 550. Due to extreme weather conditions in Western New York, there will be no pregame or postgame show on MSG.
Here are five things to know.

Jack Quinn will return from a two-game absence stemming from what was described as a nagging injury. He is expected to skate on a line with Dylan Cozens and fellow rookie JJ Peterka.
Mattias Samuelsson participated in the morning skate but will not play, Sabres coach Don Granato announced. The Sabres are prioritizing patience with the defenseman, who has been out since October 22 with a lower-body injury.
"I want him to have some more practice time," Granato said. "I think that's important coming off the injury he had and the length. I don't want to make a desperate decision and we're not in a desperate situation despite what it may be perceived.
"We can't afford to be putting him in until he's ready to go, and I just don't think he's ready to go yet to the level he wants to play at, and I want him to play it. But I think it's only a matter of a couple more practices or a little bit more time."
Granato did not announce which defensemen will play. Here's how the Sabres lined up during the morning skate, with Samuelsson skating on a pair alongside Henri Jokiharju.
| November 19 at Toronto (Morning Skate) | | --- | | LW | C | RW | | 53 Jeff Skinner | 72 Tage Thompson | 89 Alex Tuch | | 22 Jack Quinn | 24 Dylan Cozens | 77 JJ Peterka | | 19 Peyton Krebs | 37 Casey Mittelstadt | 71 Victor Olofsson | | 74 Rasmus Asplund | 8 Riley Sheahan | 29 Vinnie Hinostroza | | LD | RD | G | | 26 Rasmus Dahlin | 25 Owen Power | 1 Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | | 23 Mattias Samuelsson | 10 Henri Jokiharju | 41 Craig Anderson | | 78 Jacob Bryson | 46 Ilya Lyubushkin | | | 20 Lawrence Pilut | 45 Casey Fitzgerald | |
The Sabres have prioritized playing time for Luukkonen, who has dealt with injuries during his first three professional seasons in North America. He received nine starts in Rochester's first 11 games before an illness sidelined him for a pair of contests last weekend.
Luukkonen made a combined 71 saves in his two most recent outings, allowing just four goals.
"He just keeps getting better, which is great," Granato said. "Big guy, obviously great athlete, good in his position and gaining experience every day. His ability to gain experience every day stands out, you know, first and foremost, because that's what he needs as a young guy."
Video: PREGAME: Granato
Owen Power - who grew up about a half hour southwest of Toronto in Mississauga, Ontario - will be back in the building where he made his NHL debut last April. He skated 19:50 that night and was on the ice for two of Buffalo's goals in a 5-2 victory.
Power has only seen his responsibilities increase in the meantime. He leads NHL rookies in average ice time (23:53) - over three minutes more than second-place Kaiden Guhle. His eight assists are tied for third among rookies (just one behind Jake Sanderson and Matias Maccelli, who are tied for first).
"Owen has been very, very good and consistent in learning and applying in a very short duration," Granato said. "He absorbs what's happening and he acclimates and reacclimates very quickly."
Ilya Lyubushkin will also play in Toronto for the first time since joining the Sabres. He was traded to the Maple Leafs last February and played 38 games, including playoffs.
The Sabres are looking to snap a stretch of seven straight losses in regulation, which continued with a 4-1 defeat in Ottawa on Wednesday.
"It's been a stretch that has certainly challenged us and the challenge with a young group is good," Granato said. "I think if we were a group of 30-year-old guys, it would be devastating. They would, they would say, 'Oh, no, here we go again' and compound any problem.
"With young guys, they see opportunity for growth and they see resolution and they see that they can do it."
The Sabres and Maple Leafs renew their rivalry for the first of three times this season, with the next meeting not until February in Buffalo.
The Sabres won three of four games against the Maple Leafs last season, including the outdoor Heritage Classic in Hamilton, Ontario and Power's debut in Toronto. A win tonight would give the Sabres four straight victories against their neighbors to the north for the first time since 2010.
Toronto has earned points in three straight contests - wins over Vancouver and Pittsburgh followed by an overtime loss to New Jersey. Mitchell Marner enters tonight riding an 11-game point streak, with three goals and 12 assists in that span.
Matt Murray is expected to start in goal for the Maple Leafs. He has a .903 save percentage in three games this season.