The Maple Leafs have booked their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fifth straight year after earning a 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.
Heading into the tilt, Toronto needed a regulation win to clinch a playoff spot after the Ottawa Senators earned a regulation victory over the Vancouver Canucks earlier in the day.
Goals from William Nylander, Auston Matthews, Jake Muzzin and Adam Brooks lifted Toronto over Montreal, who got a lone tally from Nick Suzuki. Matthews’ goal took his season total to 35, the sum remaining the top mark among all NHL goal-scorers thus far in 2020-21.
With the win in tow, the Maple Leafs remain atop the North Division, their point total rising to 67.
The Maple Leafs have earned a post-season berth in each year since 2016-17, Matthews’ debut season, but have yet to make it out of the first round.
More to come.
