Shutout Victory Over Sabres Officially Puts Leafs' Anthony Stolarz Atop the Entire NHL

The Toronto Maple Leafs are riding high after a dominant 4-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, a win that officially secured their first-place finish in the Atlantic Division.

Anthony Stolarz was outstanding in the game, stopping all 35 shots he faced for a shutout, further improving his season stats and strengthening his case as one of the NHL's top goaltenders.

As per James Mirtle on X:

The shutout also marked Stolarz's career-high eighth consecutive win. As Mark Masters highlighted:

If it wasn't already obvious, Stolarz's stellar play has once again widened the gap between him and goaltending partner Joseph Woll, effectively cementing his role as the Game 1 starter for the playoffs.

The Maple Leafs appear poised for a deep playoff run this year. They made significant moves at the trade deadline that have paid off, acquiring Brandon Carlo and Scott Laughton to bolster an already strong roster.

This will be Craig Berube's first playoff run behind the Maple Leafs' bench, and it's shaping up to be a successful one. With 51 wins, Berube now holds the record for the most victories by a first-year head coach in Maple Leafs history.

Toronto is set to face the Ottawa Senators in Round 1, renewing the fierce Battle of Ontario-this time with even more intensity and higher stakes.