(My Sportsbook) - The Buffalo Sabres will try to hold onto their slim playoff hopes when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs for tonight's test at Air Canada Centre.

The Sabres have no margin for error at this point, as they are six points behind the eighth-seeded New York Rangers with three games to play. Buffalo must win all three of its remaining tests and have New York lose both of its final two games in regulation in order for the Sabres to make the postseason.

After Toronto won the first game over the Sabres this year on December 12, Buffalo has responded by taking the next four matchups from the Leafs. Buffalo has won eight of 10 overall in the series and has been victorious in its last five trips to Toronto.

Buffalo hasn't helped its cause with losses in three of its last four games. The Sabres dropped their second straight test Monday evening against visiting Detroit as Marian Hossa tallied twice and added an assist to lift the Red Wings to a 4-1 victory at HSBC Arena.

Paul Gaustad had the lone goal for the Sabres, while Ryan Miller made 28 saves on 31 shots in the loss.

Thomas Vanek, who leads Buffalo with 37 goals on the year, has failed to score a goal over his last three games and has just two markers in his last eight outings.

Buffalo will be without forwards Tim Connolly and Clarke MacArthur for tonight's game, as both players are suffering from undisclosed injuries. Connolly is fourth on the team with 45 points in just 43 games this season, while MacArthur has 31 points in 71 contests.

The Sabres, who are just 16-17-6 as the guest this year, are playing the first of two straight on the road tonight and will complete their away schedule Thursday at Carolina. Buffalo's final test of the regular season will come on home ice this Saturday against Boston.

The Maple Leafs, who will miss the playoffs for a fourth straight season, will end the year on a two-game homestand that begins tonight. Toronto will close the campaign Saturday against Ottawa.

Toronto played on Tuesday and ended a two-game slide with a 4-1 victory at New Jersey. Martin Gerber was sensational between the pipes, making 47 saves to lead the Maple Leafs to victory at Prudential Center.

Mikhail Grabovski, Jeff Hamilton, Christian Hanson and John Mitchell scored for the Maple Leafs, who had lost four of their previous five games entering play.

Toronto finished the season with an 18-19-4 road record and the club is 15-15-9 as the home team this year.