BUFFALO — This is unusual. Traditionally, the roles have been reversed, with the slick Sabres leading the feeble Toronto Maple Leafs in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Sabres have finished above the Leafs, playoff bystanders since 2004, every post-lockout season. In fact, on this date for the past six years the Leafs have only been within four points of the Sabres twice.

The times are changing, though.

The reeling Sabres, losers of three straight and nine of 11, woke up this morning in 11th place, eight points behind the surging, seventh-place Leafs, winners of their last four entering tonight’s tilt at the First Niagara Center.

The Sabres, once 29-9-1 against the Leafs following the lockout, have lost five of six to their closest and fiercest Northeast Division rival, including a 2-0 setback Tuesday in Toronto.

These days, the speedy Leafs pile up goals (132, fifth overall, 3.1 a game), while the Sabres (105, 23rd, 2.5) can’t score.

Another four-point triumph by the Leafs tonight would kick the Sabres further into the abyss and almost out of the playoff chase.

“We’re not used to being in this situation,” Sabres captain Jason Pominville, who was named an NHL All-Star on Thursday, said following practice.

What’s ignited the Leafs’ resurgence? For starters, they finally possess elite talent and depth, two important components they severely lacked for years.

Their top line — Phil Kessel, former Sabre Tim Connolly and Joffrey Lupul — is one of the NHL’s best.

Kessel (24 goals and 48 points) and Lupul (19 and 47) rank second and fifth in league scoring. The power play, which has goals in five straight games, is third overall.

“Kessel and Lupul are having career years, and they’ve found some chemistry up there that’s really working for them,” Sabres winger Drew Stafford said. “The rest of the team has fed off that. They’ve picked up their speed, I think. They’re a lot faster, quicker on the attack than they have been in the past.

“I think if I had to pick one thing, it would probably be they’re a lot quicker team now.”

Brian Burke has continually added pieces — big and small — throughout his four seasons in Toronto.

The general manager gave Boston a bounty for Kessel during the 2009 offseason, and then pulled another blockbuster with Calgary two season ago, acquiring captain and defense all-star Dion Phaneuf. Ex-Sabre Clarke MacArthur signed in 2010 after Atlanta dumped him. Lupul came in a lopsided deal with Anaheim last year.

Connolly and Matt Lombardi arrived during the summer. Now the Leafs boast three scoring lines.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said playmaking is the Leafs’ greatest strength.

“Adding a Lombardi in there and even a Tim Connolly with a little bit of creativity has been able to open up some guys,” he said. “So those top three lines are probably difference-makers.”

Is it odd looking up and seeing the Leafs ahead?

“It just goes to show you how close the league is,” Stafford said. “Teams are making changes, and it’s working out for them. Obviously, seeing teams like that up there, it doesn’t make it any easier for us.”

Of course, the Leafs are hardly a perfect club. Their penalty killing ranks last. Despite Jonas Gustavsson’s shutout Tuesday, they’re allowing 3.1 goals a game (24th).

Still, the newfound success should have the FNC roaring again tonight. In their last visit Dec. 16, a 5-4 Sabres win, Leafs supporters comprised possibly more than half of the 18,690 fans. The crowd was arguably the most raucous in years as both factions tried to outdo each other.

“The rivalry is always there,” Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn said. “Any time you play division games over time, it is always a good rivalry. What makes it extra special is how many fans we have down there in Buffalo, especially on Friday night. (It’s) pretty cool to go in there and have half the building as Leafs fans.”

Stafford said he loves playing in that wild atmosphere.

“It gets intense,” he said. “Those are usually the best games crowd-wise, atmosphere-wise we have all year. It’s still there. Obviously, now I think the stakes are a little bit higher because they’re ahead of us and we’re trying to catch them.”

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 Sabres winger Thomas Vanek (possible food poisoning) practiced Thursday and should play tonight.

Meanwhile, Ruff said defenseman Andrej Sekera (upper body) could return in a week or less. Defenseman Christian Ehrhoff (upper body) is a little behind Sekera’s timetable.

Both have been practicing.

Ruff also said winger Tyler Ennis (ankle sprain) felt better for the first time Thursday.

“It feels like it’s closer to getting back on the ice,” Ruff said.