Overview
- Bobby McMann joins Auston Matthews and William Nylander on the first line, with Matthew Knies–John Tavares–Matias Maccelli set as the second trio and Max Domi centering Steven Lorentz and Calle Jarnkrok.
- Nick Robertson is a healthy scratch in Buffalo after missed chances to score, as Easton Cowan returns on a third line with Dakota Joshua and Nicolas Roy.
- Morgan Rielly is out and skating on his own as his status is monitored, Chris Tanev remains unavailable, and Craig Berube urges five-man support with Philippe Myers in the next-man-up role.
- Berube underscores limited patience and a demand for results, including power-play work to funnel shots inside the dots for higher-danger looks.
- Secondary scoring remains a concern through seven games, while the Knies–Matthews–Cowan line has driven play by a 74% expected-goals share despite modest finishing, per Natural Stat Trick.