The Toronto Maple Leafs secured a 3–2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, maintaining their hold on the Atlantic Division and clinching their ninth-straight playoff appearance.
However, despite the win, the Leafs have yet to claim the Atlantic title since its inception in 2013. Following the win, Toronto now leads the division with 96 points and seven games remaining. For captain Auston Matthews, the result was about more than just playoff positioning; he’s focused on securing the No. 1 divisional spot.
“I think (winning the division is) in the mindset for sure,” Matthews said before the game. “These last stretch of games, you just want to make sure that our game is moving in the right direction. You want to go up and get that, for sure.”
Florida’s head coach, Paul Maurice, took a different approach to the divisional race. When asked about the importance of finishing first in the Atlantic, Maurice dismissed the idea ahead of the matchup with the Leafs.
“I see no value in (finishing first),” Maurice remarked. “You’re going to have to beat a team out of Ontario, and you’re going to have to beat a team out of Florida to get to where you want to go.”
Maurice emphasized the depth of possible playoff opponents as a reason not to focus too heavily on seeding. “If you do that and win your games, the door prize is the Washington Capitals, possibly,” he said.
“Washington, the way they’ve played all year, or Carolina. Believe me, you’re not feeling comfortable playing any of these guys.”
Toronto’s remaining schedule includes two more matchups each against the Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are currently second in the division with a 44-25-5 record and 93 points in one fewer game played than both Toronto and Florida.
