Bylsma: 'You can hear the excitement across the border' over upstart Leafs

Nobody expected the youthful Maple Leafs to be in playoff position through 41 games. Buffalo Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma didn't. But he's well aware Toronto's a bit ahead when it comes to the two rebuilding franchises.

"You can hear the excitement across the border with where they're at," Bylsma said Tuesday, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox, ahead of the second meeting between the clubs and first featuring Jack Eichel.

It's hard not to be impressed by the Maple Leafs, led by first overall pick Auston Matthews.

"He looks so much older out there," Ryan O'Reilly - who watched Matthews' exploits at the Centennial Classic - said of the 19-year-old. "So calm in the plays he's making."

Eichel missed Buffalo's first game against Toronto due to a high ankle sprain, and Matthews is looking forward to playing against one of his close friends in the Sabres' franchise player.

"He's a great guy," Matthews said. "He's been someone I've been able to lean on, especially last year during my draft year, going through similar things. He's definitely been a nice sounding board for myself."

All pleasantries will be put aside Tuesday.

"I'm happy to see him have success and look forward to playing against him," Eichel said of Matthews. "The teams don't really like each other."