Maple Leafs projected lineup tonight: Toronto’s projected lines for game against Buffalo Sabers

The Toronto Maple Leafs are scheduled to hit the road to take on the Buffalo Sabers on Thursday, October 24 at 5 p.m. ET.

Toronto (3-3-1) just lost 5-2 at home to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, which was their second straight loss. Ahead of their road game against the Sabres, here’s what the Maple Leafs’ lineup should look like.

Maple Leafs Projected Lines

Attackers

• Matthew Knies – Auston Matthews – Easton Cowan
• Matias Maccelli-John Tavares-William Nylander
• Nick Roberson – Max Domi – Bobby McMann
• Steven Lorentz-Nic Roy-Dakota Joshua

Cowan is expected to move back into the lineup after being left out on Tuesday. The top prospect will get another chance on the top line as he looks to find chemistry with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.

The Maple Leafs’ top line has struggled to find a third player, and head coach Craig Berube hasn’t ruled out putting William Nylander on the top line.

“I mean, I always want a little bit of balance,” Bérubé said via Sportsnet. “But it’s definitely something I’m thinking about.”

Bérubé, meanwhile, wanted more offense from the top line.

“When you want to create time in the offensive zone, you have to put pucks in a specific goal. Then you have to go get them, and you have to be physical, and you have to be heavy on your sticks,” Berube said of Matthews and Knies. “You’ve got to win those battles to get those pucks back. And they’ve just got to do a better job with that. That’s really the bottom line.”

Defense

• Morgan Rielly – Brandon Carlo
• Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev
• Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Simon Benoit

The Maple Leafs brought back the same six defensemen from last year, and after seven games, they all remain in the lineup and playing together.

Goalkeepers

• Cayden Primeau
• Anthony Stolarz

The Maple Leafs will likely turn to Primeau on Friday so Stolarz can play at home Saturday against Buffalo.

Primeau is 1-0 with a 4.00 GAA and .867 SV% this season. He is 1-0 with a 3.88 GAA and 0.887 SV% in his career against Buffalo.