Buffalo, NY (My Sportsbook) - The Buffalo Sabres once again try to stop the bleeding tonight when they welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs to HSBC Arena in the final installment of a three-game homestand.

Buffalo has lost its last four games, and is winless in nine straight overall (0-7-2). The club hasn't gone 10 successive contests without a win since a franchise-record 12-game lull from November 23 - December 20, 1991.

On Tuesday night the Sabres dropped a 4-3 decision to the surging Boston Bruins. Buffalo trailed 4-1 in the waning minutes and valiantly utilized a pair of Chris Gratton goals to draw within one before falling short. J.P. Dumont also scored, while Mika Noronen allowed four goals on 14 shots before being pulled in favor of Martin Biron midway through the second. Biron halted all six shots he faced the rest of the way.

Tuesday marked the second consecutive game in which coach Lindy Ruff has replaced his starting netminder. Biron was yanked after surrendering four scores on 12 shots in Saturday's 6-4 loss to Atlanta.

Buffalo now sits in the Eastern Conference cellar with nine points, as the Sabres have been passed by the suddenly-hot Thrashers, who are a point ahead. The Sabres, 2-4-1 on home ice, will kick off a two-game road trip Saturday in Ottawa.

There will be some relief for Buffalo this evening in the form of defenseman Alexei Zhitnik, who is eligible to play after serving a two-game suspension. Zhitnik was handed the punishment for a kneeing incident against Carolina's Jan Hlavac on November 7.

Toronto, meanwhile, halted a two-game losing streak with Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win against Los Angeles. After the Leafs squandered a 3-0 third- period lead, captain Mats Sundin sent the fans home happy when he bagged the game-winner 3:20 into the extra session. game-winner 3:20 into the extra session.

It was Sundin's second goal of the match for Toronto, which also received tallies from Jonas Hoglund and Tomas Kaberle. Sundin leads the team with nine markers, and his 19 points are tied with Alexander Mogilny for the club best.

Ed Belfour finished with 24 saves for the Leafs, who have won just twice in their last six games (2-3-1). Toronto is winless in its last four road outings since a 6-0 pounding of Pittsburgh on opening night (0-3-1).

The Maple Leafs went 2-1-2 against the Sabres last season, and the home team is unbeaten in the last 15 meetings between the teams (11-0-4). Toronto is 0-5-2 in its last seven trips to Buffalo.