The Battle of Ontario kicked off Sunday with a 6-2 Toronto Maple Leafs win over the Ottawa Senators. But you know what would’ve been potentially better than that? A first-round Stanley Cup playoffs that included the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres’ history – which includes 14 consecutive seasons with no playoff hockey – is about as far from ideal as it gets. But there’s a history the Sabres have with Toronto and Ottawa that lives on in the minds and hearts of Buffalo fans, Maple Leafs fans, and Senators fans, and that’s why the Sabres need to get back into the post-season as soon as possible. 

Of course, Leafs fans remember Toronto’s most recent (and surprisingly, only) post-season showdown against Buffalo very well. It happened in the 1998-99 season, when the Sabres beat the Leafs in the Eastern Conference final. Buffalo’s win over the Leafs that year got the Sabres to the Cup final for just the second time in franchise history, and although that season was the only time the Sabres and Maple Leafs have squared off in the playoffs – something that sounds crazy, given how long both teams have been in the league – you’d better believe Buffalo's run to the Cup final in 98-99 was that much sweeter for Sabres fans because they steamrolled the Buds on the way there.

The Sabres also have a colorful post-season history with the Senators, as Ottawa has played Buffalo four times in the playoffs, with the Sens going 3-1 in those four series against the Sabres. Most memorably, Buffalo beat Ottawa to kick off that 1998-99 run to the Cup final – and the Senators paid them back when they beat the Sabres in the Eastern final in 2006-07. 

The Sabres and Senators haven’t played in the post-season since then, but that’s a result of playoff futility from both teams. That said, if the Sabres can right their ship, more playoff battles will be coming against the Maple Leafs and Senators. That’s because the NHL’’s playoff system now focuses on divisional rivalries in a way the league didn’t focus on for decades. 

Thus, it’s entirely possible we’ll get Buffalo showdowns against both Ottawa and Toronto in the same post-season, as a first-round win from two of those three teams in Round One would lead  to a second-round matchup between them, and even more drama would be ensuing. But the Senators and Leafs likely aren’t going to be missing out on the playoffs anytime soon, so it’s up to the Sabres to push into the playoff picture and get Toronto, Buffalo and Ottawa in the post-season at the same time.

Sabres sports fans have deserved much better than the results Buffalo has delivered for nearly a decade-and-a-half -- and you can also say Leafs and Senators fans have deserved better from the Sabres. Rather than taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers or Boston Bruins time and again in the post-season, Ottawa and Toronto could’ve been doing battle in the playoffs against their relatively-closer-geographical-rival in Buffalo. 

Questions Yet To Be Answered If Adams Will Remain As Sabres GMFollowing the completion of Buffalo Sabres locker cleanout and GM Kevyn Adams and head coach Lindy Ruff speaking with the media for nearly an hour on Saturday, the disposition of the club and some of the principles responsible for their 14th consecutive non-playoff season is still up in the air.

In sum, fans in Ottawa, Toronto and Buffalo should want their teams to clash against each other, because there’s something especially special when the Leafs, Senators and Sabres are squaring off. It won’t happen this year, but it absolutely should happen next season and many seasons to come. 

So let’s get it done, Sabres brass. If by next spring, Buffalo is once again out of the playoff mix, the Sabres need to blow it up and start again, because these exercises in futility are robbing fans in Ontario and Western New York of a rivalry that ought to have many more chapters than it has at present.

The Maple Leafs, Sabres and Senators already have rich rivalries, but there should be more material in each rivalry between Ottawa, Toronto and Buffalo -- and it’s on the Sabres to make it so.

Matthew Knies is the definition of a playoff performer with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

At 22 years old, Knies is already making massive blocks, scoring crucial goals — including his netfront power play marker in the third period — and playing a team-high 22:19 in Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators.

He's only two seasons removed from playing at the University of Minnesota and doing everything requested of him in the Stanley Cup playoffs — when it matters most.

"Yeah, it means a lot," Knies said on Monday, when asked about his team-high in minutes played. "I want to be able to play in every situation to dominate out there and be a physical component to our team. I think I did a good job of that, and I just want to keep it going."

Let's, though, return to when his key plays in the game came.

'I Can't Say Enough About Matthew Knies and JT In Those Areas': Maple Leafs Explode For 3 Power-Play Goals To Down Senators In Game 1The Toronto Maple Leafs exploded for three power-play goals against the Ottawa Senators in a 6-2 victory in Game 1 of their first-round series in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Ottawa was pushing for a comeback just over midway through the third period. After some time in Toronto's zone, Knies stepped in front of a Thomas Chabot slap shot, which got his teammates going.

"I mean, that’s kind of what you have to do at this time of year, pay the price," he said, when asked about his hand after blocking the shot. "But no, I feel good."

And to score the goal on the power play shortly after: "Felt rewarding for sure."

MATTHEW KNIES 🚨

THE FANTASTIC FIVE WILL NOT BE STOPPED! pic.twitter.com/ByR4aWtWQk

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 21, 2025

Knies' play has been a talking point all season long. He put up career-high numbers (29 goals and 29 assists in 78 games), and since the power forward was drafted, seemed to be suited for the playoffs.

He's big, the heaviest player on the Maple Leafs, in fact, and plays in all situations for the team. 

"He was big last night. He’s so strong. He’s a handful to deal with down low and around their net," Auston Matthews said on Monday.

"He’s just a horse out there, so he was great for us last night. He’s physical on both sides of the puck, and like I said, he’s just hard to deal with down low."

'It's Not That Much Of A Conversation': Why Max Domi Will Shift To Third-Line Center For Maple Leafs Against Senators For Game 2The Toronto Maple Leafs shifted Max Domi from the second-line winger position to the third-line center spot in the second period of their 6-2 victory against the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of their first-round series.  And that adjustment will stick when both teams clash for Game 2.

What stuck out most about Knies' availability on Monday was his discipline. He wasn't getting ahead of himself or satisfied with everything the Maple Leafs did in Game 1. Part of that attitude has come from Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube's coaching style, but also from the player himself understanding there is lots more playoff hockey left.

And if you want to go far in the postseason, you need that mentality.

"I think there’s just a little bit of a different feel to it. It could be the new coach, it could be the new faces in the locker room," Knies said.

"It’s always going to feel a little bit different, but I think we’re ready for the test, and I think we did a good job. But I think it’s just one step, and we gotta keep this going, keep this one going. We don’t expect it to be a short series at all, so we just gotta keep working."

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One win down, three more to go.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs is all about being the first team to 16 wins, and taking it one game at a time.

The Colorado Avalanche has been taking a lot of things day by day. One of which has been the potential return of their captain, Gabriel Landeskog.

*See update at the bottom of this story.

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The pillar of the Avalanche team played two games of a conditioning loan with the Colorado Eagles, where he recorded two points.

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A Round One Schedule for the Stanley Cup Playoffs is HereNHL Public Relations announced the full schedule for games 1-4 of round one for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday morning. Dates for games 5-7 were also announced with times listed as TBD, meaning they will be announced once or if they become necessary.

Landeskog hasn’t played a game since June 26th, 2022, when the Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the Stanley Cup Final, winning the Stanley Cup.

Now, all that waiting might turn around on Monday night.

Gabriel Landeskog Returns Tonight?

Head coach Jared Bednar did not confirm or deny that Landeskog would be in the lineup for Game Two. However, that hand might have already been shown.

According to a few media outlets present at the Morning Skate, Landeskog was one of the first skaters to exit the ice for the optional skate. This is important to note because Landeskog has usually stayed out with the extras.

Landeskog is one of the first players off the ice for the optional skate. He’s been staying on with the extras normally.

Do with that what you will.

— Jesse Montano (@jessemontano_) April 21, 2025

Landeskog's return would be massive for the Avalanche. The team has been fantastic without their captain. However, the morale boost of having him in the lineup after almost three calendar years without him would skyrocket through the roof.

Unfortunately, Avalanche fans will have to wait until warmups to see if Landeskog will play or not.

Gabriel Landeskog has been activated from Injured Reserve. pic.twitter.com/TNQ8Mphago

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 21, 2025

*Update: The Avalanche announced that they have activated Landeskog from Injured Reserve. This all but confirms that he will play in Monday night's game against the Dallas Stars.

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