For the first time in the team's history, the Toronto Maple Leafs secured the top spot in the Atlantic Division after a 4-0 win against the Buffalo Sabres last night.
With the Leafs locking up the top spot, Toronto's first-round series is set against the Ottawa Senators in the Battle of Ontario.
This match-up for the NHL's Stanley Cup hasn't happened since the 2003-04 season, when the Leafs needed a Game 7 win of 4-1. The heated rivalry of then-captains Mats Sundin and Daniel Alfredsson has made way for the current captains, Auston Matthews and Brady Tkachuk
And the last time Toronto conquered its division was the 2020-21 season, but under COVID-19 restrictions, the divisions were changed, leaving the Leafs playing other Canadian teams in a shortened season. That series ended with the Montreal Canadiens coming back from a three-games-to-one deficit to beat the Leafs.
It hasn't been since 1999-2000 that the Buds truly captured a full-season division win, which then was called the Northeast division before being renamed the Atlantic.
Leafs' netminder Anthony Stolarz, who is projected to be Toronto’s Game 1 starter after a tremendous season, said winning the division brings excitement but also advantages come the playoffs.
“It's huge, I mean to be able to start playoffs on home ice in front of our home fans, it’s massive for us. You get that last change, you get that game seven home ice,” Stolarz said. “It’s quite an accomplishment for this group, and we’re super excited about it.”
In the Matthews era, this is the ninth straight season the Leafs qualified for the postseason, which is the longest streak in the NHL, but this core has always fallen behind other rivals in the division, such as the Boston Bruins and, most recently, the Florida Panthers.
This year was a different story, with the core finally pushing through, earning the top spot over the likes of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Panthers.
Leafs forward Steven Lorentz, who grew up a fan of the Blue-and-White, said he is proud of the effort the team has put into the season.
“It’s awesome, I’m really proud of this group, it’s a big deal and it says a lot about the buy-in from the group,” Lorentz said. “There’s speed bumps along the way, it’s no perfect rise to get to first place.”
Since the early 2000s, the rivalry between the two clubs from Ontario had cooled off in the postseason significantly, with both teams having experienced extended periods of mediocre play.
Matthews, who picked up his 400th career goal against the Sabres, said he and the rest of the team are looking forward to reigniting the Battle of Ontario in the playoffs.
“It’s been a long time, they’re a good young team, they’re hungry. They’ve (Ottawa Senators) taken steps as well. It’s going to be great,” Matthews said. “It’s going to be fun. It’s good for hockey, it's going to be intense, we're looking forward to it.”
Editor at The Hockey News, Sam McCaig, said it is great to see the Battle of Ontario back in the postseason.
“I think it's great that there's a new playoff chapter of the Battle of Ontario. It's been 21 years since the last time Ottawa and Toronto met in the postseason. So it's exciting for both fan bases, and it's great for the rivalry,” he said.
McCaig said Toronto has solidity in every position, which could potentially lead to a long playoff run.
“The Leafs have a solid defensive corps and very good goaltending, and they've got the 'Core Four' up front along with a capable supporting cast, so it's a question of whether they can finally win it all with this group," he said. "With John Tavares and Mitch Marner both up for unrestricted free agency at the end of the year, it might be the last crack for this version of the Leafs.”
With a fantastic regular season almost in the rear view mirror, with one last game to be played, it will almost be time to see if this Leafs team is different or if years past will show the same old story.
