Hockey: Leafs win Atlantic Division, will face Ottawa in the first round

Since Auston Matthews first hit the ice for Toronto in 2016, his impact has been undeniable. From jaw-dropping goals to record-breaking performances, Matthews has become the face of the franchise. Yet, for all his personal achievements, one thing remains unchanged — the Maple Leafs’ frustrating pattern of early playoff exits. As Toronto gears up for another postseason run, there’s a renewed sense of optimism that this year might finally be different.

Under new head coach Craig Berube, the Leafs have adopted a more disciplined, defensively responsible style of play. That change was on full display Tuesday night when Toronto clinched its first-ever Atlantic Division title with a convincing 4-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Matthews scored his 400th career goal in the win, and afterward, reflected on the team’s journey.

“We can’t change what’s happened in the past,” Matthews said. “I think you wear that. But I feel confident in this group. We’ve put in a lot of work this season, and winning the division is a big step. We just want to keep pushing forward.”

The win against Buffalo on Tuesday also marked the team’s 25th road victory — a franchise record — and secured Toronto the Eastern Conference’s second seed. Thus far, the Leafs have locked in their second-highest win total and third-most points in a season. Mitch Marner hit the 100-point mark for the first time in his career, while goaltender Anthony Stolarz continued his hot streak, stopping 35 shots to earn his fourth shutout of the year.

Next up for Toronto is a first-round showdown with the Ottawa Senators, reigniting the long-dormant “Battle of Ontario.” Toronto has dominated previous playoff matchups against Ottawa, winning all four series, most recently in 2004. Still, recent postseason history casts a shadow: the Leafs have advanced past the opening round only once in their last nine playoff appearances — a 2023 series win over Tampa Bay.

But this team feels different. Toronto is riding a 12-2-1 stretch, including an 8-1 run where they’ve outscored opponents 28-12. Forward Steven Lorentz, who won a Stanley Cup with Florida last season, emphasized the importance of structure over style.

“It might not be as flashy winning 2-1 compared to 7-6,” Lorentz said. “But that’s championship hockey. That’s how you play into June.”

Despite the shift in playing style, Toronto hasn’t lost its scoring touch. With 263 goals this season, they’re on track to finish among the NHL’s top 10 in offense for the ninth straight year. The more impressive improvement has come on defense, where they rank 10th in goals against — a testament to solid goaltending and a team-wide commitment to two-way play.

Stolarz praised the group effort: “The guys are committing to playing a complete game, and that’s what it’s going to take to go deep.”

Coach Berube echoed that sentiment, crediting player buy-in for the team’s success. “You’re always working on your identity,” he said. “We’ve made progress, but we’ve got to keep at it and be ready when the playoffs start.”

Reno Silva/MS