Sports

Sabres coach hopes to ‘take fans out of the game’ — in Buffalo vs. Leafs

Sure, it’s still their rink, but with tickets significantly cheaper in Western New York than two hours down the road at Scotiabank Arena, it’s a fair bet that you’ll see more blue and white than blue and yellow in the seats.

Ahead of a home game, the coach often can point to the momentum brought by the home fans. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff knows better — in fact, he’s counting on quite the opposite.

“If we play well, we can take the fans out of the game,” Ruff told reporters on Friday.

Admittedly an odd thing to say ahead of a home-ice tilt, but it seems Ruff is acutely aware that his team’s 11-17-4 record has not inspired much confidence from the Sabrehood. The Eastern Conference basement dwellers are marred in an 11-game skid, which included losses to the struggling Rangers and Canadiens, as well as to the Maple Leafs last weekend.

It’s quite likely most Sabres fans may not be willing to stomach watching a potential 12th consecutive defeat in front of a pro-Leafs crowd