The Sabres host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, the second straight meeting between the teams. With less than two minutes to play in the Leafs’ 2-0 victory Tuesday in Toronto, Buffalo forward Nathan Gerbe had a skirmish with Toronto forward Joffrey Lupul, who had his helmet knocked off by a punch. Both players earned roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
"He said something when I was going to the bench, and I turned around and he just kind of popped me, but whatever," Lupul told Toronto reporters Wednesday. "He had 58 other minutes to play hard all game, and he didn’t. So it’s always a thing that makes me laugh, when a guy doesn’t show up for the game and then, with two minutes left, tries to make something happen."
Countered Gerbe today: "I don’t worry about it. My main goal is to win a game Friday. I’m going to do whatever I can to help the team. As far as the outside things that are said, it doesn’t bother me. It’s part of hockey."
Lupul, meanwhile, continues to tweak the city. He made a plea for "windowless rooms" at the Leafs’ downtown hotel during a visit last month. Upon arriving Thursday afternoon, he snapped a picture of the rainy waterfront and tweeted, "I'm a little upset none of my Buffalo fans told me to pack my beach towel."
---John Vogl
