Sabres Hockey

This is the night Victoriaville, Syracuse and Kitchener drop a peg. Nothing against those towns and the rivalries their teams have, but when the Buffalo Sabres’ rookies finish their game tonight, they’ll likely know what big-time antagonism is all about.

The Sabres make the season’s first visit to Toronto, so it’ll also be the first visit for the all-rookie line of Paul Gaustad, Jason Pominville and Daniel Paille. They had a rollicking evening Monday in HSBC Arena, playing a major role in taking out the New York Islanders.

But Toronto is different, ever since the legendary Punch Imlach drove down the Queen Elizabeth Way in 1970 to build the Sabres and returned to Maple Leaf Gardens a few months later to crush his old team, 7-2. It’s one thing to tussle with Alexei Yashin, but when Darcy Tucker is braining you with a helmet and 20,000 die-hards are screaming for more, you know you’ve arrived.

“I know they’re a rival, so I think that’s why I’m going to be geared up for it,” Gaustad said Wednesday after practice in the Amherst Pepsi Center. “It’s going to be a fun time playing against these guys. It’s going to be a lot of hard work, but I think it’s going to be worth it.”

Gaustad already has had a small taste of the rivalry. He flattened Leafs captain Mats Sundin and subsequently fought Wade Belak in the preseason meeting in the Air Canada Centre. Pominville also played in that game, while Paille is taking the Leafs’ ice for the first time.

“I was fortunate enough to play an exhibition game there, so I’ve seen the place before, I know how it is,” Pominville said. “It’s sold out every night, and the fans are really into it. It’s just a great place to play, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Most Canadians relish their first visit to Toronto and Montreal, and Sabres coach Lindy Ruff had a gleam in his eye Wednesday recalling his first visit. Paille is a little different. Though the Welland, Ont., native was captain of Canada’s 2004 world junior championships team, Monday’s 6-3 victory had bigger significance than tonight’s matchup.

“I think the first game in Buffalo was more special just because it’s closer to home for me,” he said. “But it’s the first Canadian game, and a lot of family of mine will be able to see it, so that’ll be a good feeling for me.

“When I was growing up I watched a couple games there, but I was never a fan.”

If he and his linemates play like they did against the Islanders, Toronto won’t be a fan of them. Their forechecking and puck possession forced the Isles to take a couple of penalties, and the ensuing power plays resulted in the game-tying and game-winning goals.

“I was very happy with their play,” Ruff said. “Great energy for us every time we threw them on the ice, and they’re smart players. They realize that they have to play the game a certain way, and I thought all three of them really had a good night for us and helped us win a hockey game.

“You stick a line out there - a so-called fourth line - we want them to play in the other end and make it tough for the opposition to get the puck away from them. That’s exactly what they did the other night.”