Welcome to another edition of the Atlantic Division Notebook, where we highlight what’s happening with the Toronto Maple Leafs’ rivals, as the regular season winds down.

Toronto defeated Columbus 5-0 in a comprehensive rout, with William Nylander and Nick Robertson scoring twice, while Auston Matthews adding an insurance marker. With six games left in the season, the Maple Leafs hold a four-point lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning and a six-point lead over the Florida Panthers.

If you were dialled into the Maple Leafs’ game, chances are you were shocked to see the Lightning surrender a 2-1 lead to the lowly Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo’s Jason Zucker tied the game in the third period, forcing overtime. Alex Tuch walked it off for the Sabres in the shootout, completing a comeback that may serve as a pyrrhic victory.

Tampa Bay led 2-1 on the strength of goals from Brayden Point and Gage Goncalves, while Tage Thompson scored for Buffalo. It was a key opportunity for the Lightning to keep pace with the Maple Leafs, and despite their superior +70 goal differential, they may have to start the playoffs against the defending champion Florida Panthers. Although that may not be the worst outcome overall.

Don’t look now, but the Ottawa Senators may be a real threat this spring, defeating Florida 3-0 on Saturday. Jake Sanderson, Drake Batherson and Matthew Highmore all scored for the Senators, while Anton Forsberg made 40 saves in the winning effort. Linus Ullmark will almost certainly operate as the Senators’ playoff starter and it’s worth keeping tabs on every development surrounding the Maple Leafs’ provincial rival, as it appears increasingly likely that the Battle of Ontario will be renewed this month.

Florida is stumbling through the end of the regular season and haven’t won in regulation since March 13, where it defeated Toronto 3-2. It could be an entirely different team when Matthew Tkachuk returns in full force, but with the Atlantic Division lead to play for, the Panthers are playing their worst hockey of the season.

It’s easy to understand why you may want to avoid this section, but the Montreal Canadiens are arriving ahead of schedule, and won their fourth consecutive game, downing the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2. Brendan Gallagher, Lane Hutson and Nick Suzuki all scored for the Canadiens in the third period to topple the Flyers, strengthening their grip on the final wild-card spot. Montreal now holds a four-point lead over the seemingly despondent New York Rangers for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

It will be a quick turnaround for the Canadiens, who resume their schedule Sunday against the Nashville Predators, where it could continue to gain ground on the final playoff spot. There is a clear reality where the Atlantic Division could have five playoff teams, and the ascendant Canadiens are just beginning to turn the corner, with their young core still developing, and a loaded prospect pool in the wings.