Toronto seeking to turn over a new Leaf under Berube after clinching 1st Atlantic Division title

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — For everything he’s done since his celebrated arrival in 2016, Auston Matthews can’t change the Toronto Maple Leafs’ history of early round playoff collapses.

Perhaps, a better future lies directly ahead for a team playing a more responsible defensive style under new coach Craig Berube, and after Toronto secured several individual and franchise achievements in clinching its first Atlantic Division title with a 4-0 win at Buffalo on Tuesday night.

“I think we’re prepared,” Matthews said after scoring his 400th career goal.

“Obviously, we can’t change what’s happened in the past. I think you wear that,” the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL draft added. “So I feel really confident in this group. I think we put in a lot of work over the season. Obviously, earning the division here is a big step for us. But we just want to continue to push forward.”

With the victory, Toronto (51-26-4) won its team-record 25th road game and, with one game left, is guaranteed to finish with its second-most wins and third-most points. In the meantime, Mitch Marner set a career-high with his 100th point, while goalie Anthony Stolarz stopped 35 shots to extend his career-best winning streak to eight.

In securing the Eastern Conference’s second seed, Toronto will face provincial rival Ottawa in the first round and rekindle the so-called “Battle of Ontario.” The Maple Leafs have won all four playoff series meetings against the Senators, the most recent a seven-game first-round win in 2004.

Toronto, however, is also carrying the weight of its more recent playoff history. The team has advanced past the first round just once — a 4-2 series win over Tampa Bay in 2023 — in its past nine postseason appearances.

What’s different is how the Maple Leafs are playing in riding a 12-2-1 run, including a nine-game stretch in which they’ve won eight times while outscoring opponents by a combined margin of 28-12.

“The whole season’s a learning curve, especially with a new coach coming in, new systems. It’s different from the style of play that this team’s played with in previous seasons,” said forward Steven Lorentz, who signed with Toronto after winning a Stanley Cup with Florida last year .

“It might not be as exciting when you win the game 2-1 rather than 7-6,” Lorentz added. “But you know, that’s championship hockey and that’s what it takes if you want to play into June.”

The Maple Leafs certainly haven’t lost their offensive touch. With 263 goals, Toronto is closing in on finishing its ninth straight season ranked among the NHL’s top 10.

What’s changed is the team’s goals-against numbers. The Maple Leafs enter their final game ranked 10th in the NHL in allowing 226 goals. Only twice over the past nine seasons have they finished with a better ranking.

The players credit their goaltending tandem that includes Joseph Woll, and with Stolarz picking up his fourth shutout of the season, third in four starts, and 12th of his career.

“He was lights out last year,” Lorentz said of Stolarz, who also spent last season in Florida. “He just brings it. He’s a gamer. He doesn’t take anything super seriously. And I think that’s what makes him so good.”

Stolarz placed the emphasis on how the team’s playing soundly in front of him.

“I feel good, but I think at the end of the day, the guys are really committing to a complete two-way game up and down the ice,” the 31-year-old said. “It’s what it’s gonna take to go far in the playoffs. I just think that we have to continue this trend.”

Berube, who won a Cup coaching the St. Louis Blues in 2019, said the key to this season has been the buy-in from players.

“You’re always trying to work on your identity. And that hasn’t stopped throughout the season,” he said.

“I think our guys have done a good job of it,” Berube added. “So yeah, I think we’re in a good spot, but we’ve got to keep making sure we’re pounding away at it and keep working on it and be ready to go.”

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Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner (16) celebrates his goal with center Auston Matthews (34) and left wing Matthew Knies (23) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) makes a blocker save during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) celebrates his goal with left wing Scott Laughton (24) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Toronto Maple Leafs center Steven Lorentz (18) celebrates his goal with left wing Scott Laughton (24) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) celebrates his goal with goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Cleveland (4-12) at Cincinnati (6-10)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS.

BetMGM NFL odds: Bengals by 7 1/2.

Against the spread: Browns 7-9; Bengals 8-8.

Series record: Bengals lead 56-48.

Last meeting: Bengals beat the Browns 17-16 in Cleveland on Sept. 7, 2025.

Last week: Browns beat the Steelers 13-6; Bengals beat the Cardinals 37-14.

Browns offense: overall (30), rush (27), pass (29), scoring (31)

Browns defense: overall (2), rush (14), pass (2), scoring (14)

Bengals offense: overall (18), rush (31), pass (6), scoring (12).

Bengals defense: overall (32), rush (32), pass (27), scoring (31).

Turnover differential: Browns minus-8; Bengals minus-2.

DE Myles Garrett. With 22 sacks, the All-Pro pass rusher needs one to pass the single-season record held by Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan (2001 with the New York Giants) and Pittsburgh’s TJ Watt (2021). Garrett, who also leads the league with 32 tackles for a loss, has sacked Joe Burrow 11 times in nine meetings.

QB Joe Burrow has completed 49 of 63 passes for 614 yards with six touchdowns, no interceptions and a 139 passer rating in the past two games. Burrow has a 4-5 record against the Browns, but has won his past three starts.

Garrett vs. Bengals LT Orlando Brown. Garrett has lined up on the right side as an edge rusher on 82.2% of his snaps, meaning most of his pass rush snaps will come against Brown. Garrett has been chip-blocked or double-teamed on 26 of 61 pass rush snaps the past two games. The Bengals have used chip blocks for Brown on a 14.5% rate this season, fourth highest among left tackles.

Browns: TE Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) and LB Carson Schwesinger (quad, ankle) have not practiced this week. TE David Njoku (knee) could miss his fourth straight game.

Bengals: RB Chase Brown (illness), TE Cam Grady (chest), WR Charlie Jones (ankle), DT B.J. Hill (ankle), CB Josh Newton (hamstring) and DE Joseph Ossai (ankle) have not practiced all week. Jones, Newton and Ossai are out.

The Bengals have won four straight. Cincinnati has a 32-21 edge since Cleveland’s return in 1999. Bengals coach Zac Taylor is 6-7 against the Browns. The Bengals have a 34-18 advantage in games played in Cincinnati. Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski has a 6-5 record against Cincinnati.

Cleveland has a six-game losing streak in road division games. ... QB Shedeur Sanders is 2-4 as a starting quarterback. HIs 364 passing yards against the Titans on Dec. 7 are the most by a rookie quarterback in a game this season. ... RB Dylan Sampson had 93 scrimmage yards (29 rushing, 64 receiving) in the first meeting. ... WR Jerry Jeudy has at least five catches in four games. He had five receptions for 66 yards in the first meeting. ... TE Harold Fannin Jr. leads NFL rookies with 72 receptions. He has a touchdown catch in two straight games and four of the past five. ... The Browns have not allowed a 300-yard passer in 44 straight games, the league's longest active streak since the Colts had a 52-game run from 2005-08. ... LB Carson Schwesinger leads league rookies in tackles (156) and tackles for loss (11). ... CB Tyson Campbell is second in the league with 18 passes defensed. ... K Andre Szmyt, who missed a field goal and extra point in the first meeting against Cincinnati, has made 12 consecutive field goals. ... Cincinnati scored 82 points in wins over Miami and Arizona. It is the most it has scored in a two-game span since totaling 85 during Weeks 12-13 in 2004. ... RB Chase Brown has at least 90 scrimmage yards in six straight home games, including 141 last week. ... RB Samaje Perine has scored a touchdown in two straight games. ... WR Tee Higgins is tied for fifth in the league with 10 receiving touchdowns. ... The Bengals have forced 11 turnovers in the past five games, tied for third most (Jacksonville and Minnesota both have 12). ... LB Demetrius Knight is second among league rookies with 103 tackles. ... DE and first-round pick Shemar Stewart got his first sack last week. ... P Ryan Rehkow is second in the league in gross punting average (51.1 yards per punt). ... K Evan McPherson has made 12 straight field goals.

Cincinnati WR Ja'Marr Chase is third in the league in receptions (117) and fourth in yards (1,316). He has five games with at least 10 catches this season, but was held to two receptions for 26 yards in the first meeting.

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Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett reacts after a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)