Maple Leafs Grab Atlantic Division Title After 4-0 Win Over Sabres
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By Nemanja Petković
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Summary:
- Toronto Maple Leafs won the Atlantic Division title for the first time with a commanding 4-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
- Steven Lorentz, Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, and Nicholas Robertson found the net.
- Tuesday’s victory was also made possible with help from goalie Anthony Stolarz, who stopped all 35 shots.
The Toronto Maple Leafs clinched the Atlantic Division crown for the first time since the realignment era with a commanding 4-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.
Goalie Stolarz Turned Away 35 Shots
Anthony Stolarz was the star between the pipes, turning away all 35 shots he faced to notch his third consecutive shutout in Buffalo, a building that seems to bring out his absolute best for the 31-year-old born in Edison, New Jersey.
The goaltender, who signed as a free agent in Toronto in July 2024 after winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers as a backup for Sergei Bobrovsky, currently boasts a 4-0-1 record against the Sabres.
He only gave up six goals in those matchups. Tuesday’s performance was yet another gem, adding to his 45-save shutout with Florida last season and a 25-save blanking as a Duck in 2021.
Marner: “It’s A Team Effort”
Offensively, it was Steven Lorentz who broke the ice late in the second period. He ripped a one-timer off a slick feed from Scott Laughton that beat Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen high on the short side.
That was a great play by Laughton, and I just tried to get it on net
From there, Toronto didn’t look back. Mitch Marner hit the 100-point milestone for the first time in his career, scoring with just over four minutes left in regulation.
“It’s a team effort, but it’s a cool moment” Marner said. Auston Matthews padded the lead with an empty-netter, which also marked the 400th goal of his NHL career. Nicholas Robertson chipped in with a goal of his own earlier in the game.
A Victory That Attracted New Records
With the win, the Leafs secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and set up a first-round playoff showdown with the Ottawa Senators which you can get the latest odds here .
It also marked the team’s 51st win of the season, second only to their 54-win campaign in 2021-22. The victory was also Toronto’s 25th on the road, which is a new high for the franchise.
Buffalo, meanwhile, saw its seven-game home win streak come to a close. Luukkonen stopped 28 shots in the loss, but the Sabres couldn’t find a way past Stolarz.
They were also missing blueliner Owen Power, who is expected to need significant recovery time this offseason due to a lower-body injury.
Up next in the NHL, the Maple Leafs return home to host the Red Wings on Thursday. The Sabres will look to bounce back when they welcome the Flyers that same night.
