Buffalo Sabres 2016-17: Five Must-See Home Games

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Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Auston Matthews puts on a team cap after being selected as the number one overall draft pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

November 3, 2016: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres

Even if you despise the Maple Leafs with the intensity of a thousand burning suns, you have to admit: the fact that Buffalo’s neighbor-to-the-north is undergoing a rebuild right around the same time the Sabres are makes for a pretty compelling story.

Games between these two teams have always been a little heated, due to how close they are, but now that the Leafs and Sabres will both be spending a few years fighting for playoff relevance, fans could be about to witness the birth of a full-blown rivalry.

Toss in the fact that the Sabres drafted the brother of Leafs forward William Nylander, which could make for an interesting subplot should Alexander still hold a spot on the roster by this game, and the fact that fans will be able to catch their first glimpse of Auston Matthews, the first pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, and you have a healthy list of reasons to snag tickets to this match-up.

Next: The New Guy Versus His Old Team

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