Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Morgan Rielly, and William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)

Maple Leafs Officially Clinch First Place in Atlantic Division

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Spencer Lazary | Last updated Apr 15, 2025 9:40 PM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs have done it — they have officially clinched the top spot in the Atlantic Division with their 4-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres. This is the first time since the 1999-00 season that the Maple Leafs have finished first in their division over a full 82-game season. They also secured first place in the Canadian Division during the 2020-21 COVID-shortened season, but that was only a 56-game campaign.

Earned it, but hungry for more! pic.twitter.com/kxmb0yscj2
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 16, 2025

It’s been a long time coming for the Atlantic Division to be settled. Over the past few months, there has been a lot of movement at the top — with the Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers all taking turns in first place. But now that the dust has settled, Toronto has come out on top, and the playoff matchups are set.

Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Morgan Rielly, and William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Maple Leafs will face the Ottawa Senators in a new edition of the Battle of Ontario, while the Lightning will take on the Panthers in the Battle of Florida. This will be the fourth time the Maple Leafs and Senators have met in the playoffs, with the last meeting coming back in 2003.

Toronto still has one more game to play — against the Detroit Red Wings — before the playoffs begin on Saturday, April 19. The focus now shifts to rest and game planning ahead of Game 1. Until then, enjoy this, Leafs Nation. It’s been 25 years in the making, but we’re finally in the best position to go on a deep playoff run after a very successful season from the boys in Blue and White.