BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) 鈥� For everything he鈥檚 done since his celebrated arrival in 2017, Auston Matthews can鈥檛 change the Toronto Maple Leafs鈥� history of early round playoff collapses.
Perhaps, a better future lies directly ahead for a team playing a more responsible defensive style under new coach Craig Berube, and after Toronto secured several individual and franchise achievements in clinching its first Atlantic Division title on Tuesday night.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e prepared,鈥� Matthews said after scoring his 400th career goal.
鈥淥bviously, we can鈥檛 change what鈥檚 happened in the past. I think you wear that,鈥� the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL draft added. 鈥淪o I feel really confident in this group. I think we put in a lot of work over the season. Obviously, earning the division (title) here is a big step for us. But we just want to continue to push forward.鈥�
With the victory, Toronto (51-26-4) won its team-record 25th road game and, with one game left, is guaranteed to finish with its second-most wins and third-most points. In the meantime, Mitch Marner set a career-high with his 100th point, while goalie Anthony Stolarz stopped 35 shots to extend his career-best winning streak to eight.
In securing the Eastern Conference鈥檚 second seed, Toronto will face provincial rival Ottawa in the first round and rekindle the so-called 鈥淏attle of Ontario.鈥� The Maple Leafs have won all four playoff series meetings against the Senators, the most recent a seven-game first-round win in 2004.
Toronto, however, is also carrying the weight of its more recent playoff history. The team has advanced past the first round just once 鈥� a 4-2 series win over Tampa Bay in 2023 鈥� in its past nine post-season appearances.
What鈥檚 different is how the Maple Leafs are playing in riding a 12-2-1 run, including a nine-game stretch in which they鈥檝e won eight times while outscoring opponents by a combined margin of 28-12.
鈥淭he whole season鈥檚 a learning curve, especially with a new coach coming in, new systems. It鈥檚 different from the style of play that this team鈥檚 played with in previous seasons,鈥� said forward Steven Lorentz, who signed with Toronto after winning a Stanley Cup with Florida last year.
鈥淚t might not be as exciting when you win the game 2-1 rather than 7-6,鈥� Lorentz added. 鈥淏ut you know, that鈥檚 championship hockey and that鈥檚 what it takes if you want to play into June.鈥�
The Maple Leafs certainly haven鈥檛 lost their offensive touch. With 263 goals, Toronto is closing in on finishing its ninth straight season ranked among the NHL鈥檚 top 10.
What鈥檚 changed is the team鈥檚 goals-against numbers. The Maple Leafs enter their final game ranked 10th in the NHL in allowing 226 goals. Only twice over the past nine seasons have they finished with a better ranking.
The players credit their goaltending tandem that includes Joseph Woll, and with Stolarz picking up his fourth shutout of the season, third in four starts, and 12th of his career.
鈥淗e was lights out last year,鈥� Lorentz said of Stolarz, who also spent last season in Florida. 鈥淗e just brings it. He鈥檚 a gamer. He doesn鈥檛 take anything super seriously. And I think that鈥檚 what makes him so good.鈥�
Stolarz placed the emphasis on how the team鈥檚 playing soundly in front of him.
鈥淚 feel good, but I think at the end of the day, the guys are really committing to a complete two-way game up and down the ice,鈥� the 31-year-old said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 what it鈥檚 gonna take to go far in the playoffs. I just think that we have to continue this trend.鈥�
Berube, who won a Cup coaching the St. Louis Blues in 2019, said the key to this season has been the buy-in from players.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e always trying to work on your identity. And that hasn鈥檛 stopped throughout the season,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 think our guys have done a good job of it,鈥� Berube added. 鈥淪o yeah, I think we鈥檙e in a good spot, but we鈥檝e got to keep making sure we鈥檙e pounding away at it and keep working on it and be ready to go.鈥�
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
John Wawrow, The Associated Press
