For all the things he’s achieved since his celebrated arrival in 2016, Auston Matthews can’t change the Toronto Maple Leafs’ historical past of early spherical playoff collapses.
Maybe, a greater future lies immediately forward for a staff taking part in a extra accountable defensive fashion below new coach Craig Berube, and after Toronto secured a number of particular person and franchise achievements in clinching its first Atlantic Division title with a 4-0 win at Buffalo on Tuesday night time.
“I feel we’re ready,” Matthews stated after scoring his four-hundredth profession objective.
“Clearly, we are able to’t change what’s occurred previously. I feel you put on that,” the No. 1 choose within the 2016 NHL draft added. “So I really feel actually assured on this group. I feel we put in quite a lot of work over the season. Clearly, incomes the division here’s a massive step for us. However we simply need to proceed to push ahead.”
With the victory, Toronto (51-26-4) gained its team-record twenty fifth street recreation and, with one recreation left, is assured to complete with its second-most wins and third-most factors. Within the meantime, Mitch Marner set a career-high together with his one hundredth level, whereas goalie Anthony Stolarz stopped 35 pictures to increase his career-best successful streak to eight.
In securing the Jap Convention’s second seed, Toronto will face provincial rival Ottawa within the first spherical and rekindle the so-called “Battle of Ontario.” The Maple Leafs have gained all 4 playoff collection conferences in opposition to the Senators, the latest a seven-game first-round win in 2004.
Toronto, nonetheless, can be carrying the burden of its more moderen playoff historical past. The staff has superior previous the primary spherical simply as soon as — a 4-2 collection win over Tampa Bay in 2023 — in its previous 9 postseason appearances.
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What’s totally different is how the Maple Leafs are taking part in in using a 12-2-1 run, together with a nine-game stretch through which they’ve gained eight occasions whereas outscoring opponents by a mixed margin of 28-12.
“The entire season’s a studying curve, particularly with a brand new coach coming in, new techniques. It’s totally different from the fashion of play that this staff’s performed with in earlier seasons,” stated ahead Steven Lorentz, who signed with Toronto after successful a Stanley Cup with Florida final 12 months .
“It may not be as thrilling once you win the sport 2-1 moderately than 7-6,” Lorentz added. “However you already know, that’s championship hockey and that’s what it takes if you wish to play into June.”
The Maple Leafs actually haven’t misplaced their offensive contact. With 263 objectives, Toronto is closing in on ending its ninth straight season ranked among the many NHL’s high 10.
What’s modified is the staff’s goals-against numbers. The Maple Leafs enter their last recreation ranked tenth within the NHL in permitting 226 objectives. Solely twice over the previous 9 seasons have they completed with a greater rating.
The gamers credit score their goaltending tandem that features Joseph Woll, and with Stolarz choosing up his fourth shutout of the season, third in 4 begins, and twelfth of his profession.
“He was lights out final 12 months,” Lorentz stated of Stolarz, who additionally spent final season in Florida. “He simply brings it. He’s a gamer. He doesn’t take something tremendous significantly. And I feel that’s what makes him so good.”
Stolarz positioned the emphasis on how the staff’s taking part in soundly in entrance of him.
“I really feel good, however I feel on the finish of the day, the blokes are actually committing to a whole two-way recreation up and down the ice,” the 31-year-old stated. “It’s what it’s gonna take to go far within the playoffs. I simply suppose that we now have to proceed this development.”
Berube, who gained a Cup teaching the St. Louis Blues in 2019, stated the important thing to this season has been the buy-in from gamers.
“You’re at all times attempting to work in your identification. And that hasn’t stopped all through the season,” he stated.
“I feel our guys have achieved job of it,” Berube added. “So yeah, I feel we’re in a great place, however we’ve received to maintain ensuring we’re pounding away at it and maintain engaged on it and be able to go.”
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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