Leafs hoping to separate

With back-to-back games against the Buffalo Sabres, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a golden opportunity to put 10 points between themselves and their neighboring rivals.

The Leafs have won three straight and currently sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. After hosting the Sabres Tuesday night, the Maple Leafs will travel to Buffalo Friday before returning home to play five straight at Air Canada Centre.

"I think right now we're in a position where we look at each game as two points and that's it," said centre David Steckel. "Points come at a premium and there's a lot of parity in our conference right now. Teams keep winnning and we have to make sure we keep pace."

Coach Ron Wilson said the Maple Leafs cannot afford to be worried only about a geographical rival.

"There's other teams in the conference besides Buffalo," Wilson said. "I'm not think we've got to bury Buffalo because if you focus on one team a couple of other teams will slip by your. We've got to get the points and if we can do it at the expense of a team chasing us, then all the better."

Notes from practice:

-Tyler Bozak skated on his own prior to Monday's practice but was not available to the media after practice. Ron Wilson gave no timetable on Bozak's return

-Dion Phaneuf took part in practice on Monday but still has a very swollen cheek after getting hit in the face with the puck Thursday night.

-Jonas Gustavsson, who has won three straight starts, will start between the pipes on Tuesday night.

Veteran hockey columnist Mike Brophy will cover the Toronto Maple Leafs for sportsnet.ca for the 2011/12 season.