Toronto can win the Atlantic division with a win against Carolina and a Lightning loss on Sunday.
As Mitch Marner fired the puck past Jakub Dobes in overtime on Saturday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs won the game and clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
After Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki’s chance to end the game was stopped by Anthony Stolarz 20 seconds into overtime, Toronto went the other way with numbers.
Marner hopped on for Brandon Carlo, received the puck in Montreal’s zone, and found the back of the net for his 98th point of the season.
MAGIC MITCH BREAKS THE ICE IN OVERTIME 🧊
Mitch Marner scores the Subway Canada OT clincher to win it for the Maple Leafs pic.twitter.com/mNNQ3sjMwc
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 13, 2025
As this group has often discussed, individual accolades are significant, but team success is paramount. And when the Maple Leafs walk into Carolina’s PNC Arena, they’re one step closer to locking up the Atlantic division.
With the Tampa Bay Lightning (three games left) and Florida Panthers (two games left) four points behind Toronto in the standings, a Maple Leafs win and a Lightning loss on Sunday would clinch them the division.
“You want to be home as much as you can for the playoffs so it will be great,” Marner said Saturday. “It’s always exciting in this barn when playoffs come around.”
If both teams win, Toronto can beat one of the Buffalo Sabres or Detroit Red Wings next week to win the Atlantic. For now, though, they’ll have home-ice versus whoever they play (likely Ottawa) in the first round.
“I think it’s important to have home ice, but we’re not done yet,” head coach Craig Berube said. “We got games yet so we gotta focus on the next game, but it’s a great job by our guys.”
Brandon Carlo, although happy to play in Toronto more in the first round, shared a similar sentiment.
“When you’re playing at home, you have a good opportunity, especially going into the later games of the rounds,” the defenseman said.
“But overall, you have to have the same mindset regardless that each game matters. It’s not really where it’s played. It’s just taking it one game at a time and focusing on the process rather than the outcome.”
There are several reasons why a team would want home-ice advantage. You’re at home for longer periods, and you’ll have the fans on your side, two of the more important things.
Being on the road, however, can be useful because players can put everyday distractions in the rear-view mirror. Knowing your schedule in round one is key, but the next step is figuring out the opponent, which should come soon.
“I think any time you can lock up, it’s massive, especially going into whoever we’re going to play,” Max Domi said on Saturday. “It’s going to be a heck of a battle in the first round, so hopefully our fans are ready to go because we will be for sure.”
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