Marner hits 100, Maple Leafs clinch Atlantic Division title in win

Toronto will face Ottawa in Battle of Ontario first-round playoff matchup

Get the latest from Terry Koshan straight to your inbox

Published Apr 15, 2025 • Last updated 4 hours ago • 2 minute read

Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner (centre) celebrates his goal with Auston Matthews (left) and Matthew Knies during the third period against the Sabres, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Buffalo. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BUFFALO — Get those Maple Leafs fitted for the Atlantic Division crown.

Advertisement 2

Article content

With a 4-0 victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night at KeyBank Center, the Leafs won their division for the third time since 1967.

And in the process, the Leafs ensured they will face the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs for what should be an electric Battle of Ontario. It’s the fifth time, and first since 2004, that the Leafs and Sens meet in the post-season. The Leafs won all four previous playoff series against their provincial rivals.

Leafs captain Auston Matthews scored his 400th career goal when he put the puck into an empty Sabres net at 18:08 of the third. Matthews became the 110th player to score 400 goals in the National Hockey League. He’s 20 behind the Leafs record of 420 set by Mats Sundin.

Article content

Advertisement 3

Article content

With goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen back in the net, Nick Robertson scored on a breakaway at 18:43.

For the first time in the NHL, Leafs winger Mitch Marner has recorded 100 points in a season. That became fact at 15:39 of the third period when he deposited a Matthews pass behind Luukkonen.

The Leafs won the Northeast Division in the 82-game season in 1999-2000; in 2020-21, they won the North Division in a season that was limited to 56 games because of the COVID pandemic.

The victory gave the Leafs their 25th road win of 2024-25, establishing a franchise single-season record.

Steven Lorentz scored the first Leafs goal and Anthony Stolarz had another excellent night in net as Toronto won its 51st game.

The Leafs finish the regular season at home against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.

Advertisement 4

Article content

The only team goal against the Wings: Emerge from the game with no injuries.

We don’t see Lorentz’s quick release too often, but when we do, it seems he scores every time.

The latest example came at 14:15 of the second period, resulting in the only goal of the game.

Recommended from Editorial

Planted in the faceoff circle to the right of Luukkonen, Lorentz took a pass from Scott Laughton and unleashed a one-timer over Luukkonen’s right shoulder.

It was the eighth goal of the season for Lorentz, and for Laughton, it was his third point (and second assist) in 19 games since he was acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers. The Leafs need more production from Laughton once the playoffs begin.

Stolarz settled into the groove we’ve come to know, stopping all 22 shots on goal through two periods. A glove save on Alex Tuch in the first period and another tough stop on Tuch were among the highlights that Stolarz provided.

Stolarz wound up with 36 saves to record his fourth shutout of the season and 12th of his career. He couldn’t be better prepared for the playoffs.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun