Toronto has clinched the division title for the first time since the 1999-00 season.
With a 4-0 win on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres, the Toronto Maple Leafs clinched the Atlantic division title, their first divisional title since 2000.
The Maple Leafs secured the North division crown in 2021 during the COVID-19 season, but this was clearly different. With a fresh head coach who implemented new systems, Toronto found a way to stand ahead of the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
“I think it’s a goal that you set out at the end of the year to claim that. It’s a good step for our group,” Auston Matthews, who scored his 400th career goal, said on Tuesday.
“Obviously, a lot of work to be done, but a good little checkmark for us.”
here we see a great thing, and Auston Matthews scoring his 400th NHL goal pic.twitter.com/HnxyIdNDn0
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 16, 2025
Toronto’s division-clinching win now sets up one of the most anticipated playoff matchups this year: the Battle of Ontario.
The Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators haven’t battled in the playoffs since 2004, when Toronto eliminated them in seven games. Since then, the Maple Leafs have won just one playoff series (against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023) but are looking to strike again.
“Yeah, I’m excited. Bring it on,” Steven Lorentz said before reminiscing about the Battle of Ontario as a child.
“It’s exciting for the fans, obviously. There’s a lot of passion in both organizations. But I grew up watching this series when I was a kid a few times, so I’ve got fond memories and to be able to play in it now is just special, and I’m looking forward to it.”
His favorite memory against the Senators in the playoffs?
“I remember the two back-to-back goals, the one five-hole on [Patrick Lalime]. Joe Nieuwendyk, if I remember correctly. But yeah, I just remember being a little kid, having a mini stick net right in front of the TV, and in the TV timeout, I’d fire the ball in the net,” Lorentz said.
“Now, to be able to do this, I still feel like I’m that eight-year-old kid watching on TV, but I get to sit on the bench with the big boys and put my effort in out there.”
It’ll be Lorentz’s first playoff series wearing blue and white, but Matthews and Mitch Marner have had their fair share of battles in the postseason. They’ve played the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, and Tampa Bay Lightning, to name a few, but never the Senators.
“Yeah, it’ll be cool. I mean, it’s been a long time. Obviously, they’re a good young team. They’re hungry,” Matthew said.
“They’ve taken steps as well, so I think it’s going to be great. It’s going to be fun. It’s good for hockey. Obviously, it’s going to be intense, so I think we’re looking forward to it.”
Anthony Stolarz, who secured his third shutout in the last eight games, has played the Senators twice this season. The Maple Leafs have lost both times, but Stolarz has put together a .908 save percentage in that span.
After Toronto’s win against Buffalo, Stolarz sits first in the NHL with a .926 save percentage. While it remains uncertain who gets Game 1 against Ottawa, Stolarz will be ready if he gets the nod.
“It’ll be fun for sure. I think they’re a hungry team. They haven’t made the playoffs in a couple years here,” Stolarz said. “We feel good about our game and it’s going to be a blood bath; it’s going to be a little bit of a war, so we’ll be ready.”
Toronto has one final game — against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday — before the playoff fun begins.
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