It was a banner night for the Toronto Maple Leafs, clinching the Atlantic Division with a 4-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, with Auston Matthews among the headliners.

Matthews became the 6th-fastest player in NHL history to reach the 400-goal mark when he notched an empty-netter to secure the win. It’s rare territory, as Matthews became the second Maple Leafs player to register 400 goals, trailing Mats Sundin, who holds the franchise record with 420 goals.

Toronto’s captain also delivered the primary assist on Mitch Marner’s third-period goal, which helped his linemate reach the 100-point mark in a single season for the first time.

“Obviously this group’s been really supportive all year,” Matthews said post-game. “And individual awards are nice; I think it’s nice to check off certain things, obviously. But the focus is still on the team and doing what’s best for the team and continue to put our best foot forward here, one more game and then the postseason. So, we’ve just got to stay focused and stay dialled in mentally on our game and on the guys in this room.”

It was Matthews’ 32nd goal of the season, and the Maple Leafs are now rolling into the playoffs, preparing for a first-round matchup against the Ottawa Senators.

Matthews is widely considered one of the greatest goal-scorers of his generation, and reaching this feat so quickly further confirms his place in the game. Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bossy, Mario Lemieux, Brett Hull and Jari Kurri are the five players in NHL history who reached 400 goals in fewer games than Matthews, which is incredible, given the era Matthews plays in — it’s notable that he’s pacing ahead of the league’s all-time leading goal-scorer, Alexander Ovechkin.

There’s a special connection between Matthews and Marner, who have become the franchise’s foundational players since their shared rookie seasons in 2016-17. Both players are facing the most important postseason of their careers, which is certainly true for Marner as a pending free agent, in an environment where his every shift will be examined microscopically. It’s full speed ahead for the Maple Leafs’ dynamic duo, and Matthews is in line to break Sundin’s franchise record during the early stages of the 2025-26 campaign.