We can finally look ahead to the playoffs in earnest, as the Toronto Maple Leafs wrapped up the Atlantic Division with a 4-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.
Anthony Stolarz was outstanding throughout the game, making 36 saves to preserve the shutout. Stolarz has won eight games in a row and he’ll almost certainly start for the Maple Leafs in the playoffs. Stolarz was the recipient of the team belt, given to the Maple Leafs’ best or most impactful player in a winning effort.
It was a milestone night overall for the Leafs. Mitch Marner became the fourth player in franchise history to record 100 points in a single season when he scored late in the third period, while Auston Matthews recorded his 400th NHL goal. Steven Lorentz and Nick Robertson bookended the scoring for the Maple Leafs during a triumphant evening.
Here are four takeaways from the Leafs’ victory over the Sabres
- Anthony Stolarz is in tremendous form for the Maple Leafs entering the playoffs, which is an element that can’t be understated. Stolarz has won eight consecutive starts, with three shutouts in his past four games, and he was terrific against a Sabres team with nothing but pride to play for, making 36 saves. Stolarz continue to use his massive frame to great effect, while tracking pucks easily and communicating what he expects from his defence corps. He was outstanding throughout the first period, making a key stop on Alex Tuch off the rush, and he didn’t look back from there. During the final minutes of the third period, Stolarz made several acrobatic saves and he’s completely locked in. It’s clear that he’s embracing the challenge of what lies ahead during the playoffs. “It’s going to be a bloodbath. It’s going to be a little bit of a war. We’ll be ready,” Stolarz said post-game via TSN’s Mark Masters.
- Mitch Marner has been the Maple Leafs’ MVP this season and he reached the 100-point mark for the first time in his career, a fitting accomplishment for a player that excels in all situations. Marner was looking for his linemates throughout the night and was rewarded for his own opportunism, when he crashed the net late in the third period, depositing a feed from Auston Matthews. It was a tremendous performance, to cap off the best season of his career and Marner walked away with a 75 percent share of the expected goals at 5-on-5 via Natural Stat Trick. Some factions of the fan base won’t be satisfied until Marner delivers a standout playoffs, which is more than fair, given that he could potentially walk away in free agency with the Leafs recouping nothing in return. Marner seems keenly aware of this dynamic. “Now the real work starts,” Marner told Masters post-game.
- Matthews scored his 400th career goal, becoming the sixth-fastest player to reach the milestone in NHL history, which naturally invites reflection on his career to date. It hasn’t been the season that anyone expected out of Matthews, but he’s still pushing his way into high-danger areas at an elite rate, and he deserves a few empty-netters here and there. Matthews appears to be all the way back, and with the Maple Leafs entering the playoffs in scorching form, we can’t wait to see what lies ahead during his initial postseason with the captaincy.
- Scott Laughton played his best game since being acquired by the Maple Leafs and appears to be forming some natural chemistry with Steven Lorentz. There are some who are litigating the acquisition cost for Laughton, but that’s a moot point now. At his best, Laughton can provide some defensive upside and some secondary offence, which has been sorely lacking during these past two months. Laughton is firmly entrenched for the playoffs, and is due for a major moment, as he’s been part of the roster during a terrific stretch for the Leafs to close out the regular season.
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