The 2024-25 season has come to an end and the Toronto Maple Leafs have won the Atlantic Division title. With the regular season done, a number of milestones completed in the process, a change in coaching staff and an on-ice system that the team has shown to adjust to, the real work begins. The main question that’s been on everyone’s mind since the start of the season can now be asked. How will this new team fair in the playoffs after multiple seasons of disappointment and one playoff series win to show for it? A new chapter in the Battle of Ontario will be written as the Maple Leafs will face the Ottawa Senators in the post season for the first time since 2003-04. Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators (The Hockey Writers) The Senators won the season series 3-0 and the Maple Leafs only scored three goals in the process. However, the playoffs are a new season and the slate is wiped clean. The Senators don’t have the experience as it’s their first appearance since 2016-17, but the Maple Leafs’ struggles cast some doubt on whether or not they can make a strong push and make a deep run. The Maple Leafs are the heavy favourites, but they shouldn’t underestimate their opponent. The Maple Leafs will win their series against the Senators if these four things happen. The Core-Four Show Up The is the biggest concern for the Maple Leafs, as the lack of consistency from the Core-Four in the playoffs has been an issue every series. While there have been some story lines in the past; William Nylander against the Boston Bruins, John Tavares’ series clinching goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning, it always feels that the team’s top forwards have more to give and aren’t playing at their best. The expectation is that Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Nylander and Tavares can’t just have an average series. They need to standout and show that they’re the ones to carry a series. With $46.65 million in salary between the four, many expect them to go above and beyond in a series where they should dominate offensively. For example, in 2020-21 against the Montreal Canadiens, the Maple Leafs were the clear favourites. Nylander scored five goals and recorded eight points, but Matthews only had one goal and Marner had four assists as they came under heavy scrutiny. Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Morgan Rielly, and William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) In a season where Tavares almost had 40 goals, Marner hit 100 points for the first time in his career, Nylander being second in league scoring and Matthews still being a two-way scoring threat, they have to take that next step and be difference makers. There should be no excuses for the offense that this team can bring. They definitely have more fire power than the Senators and if that shows up and they stick to their system that they’ve adapted to and succeeded in, it’ll be no match for them. The Maple Leafs have more experience and hopefully it can propel them forward. They Match Senators’ Heavy Play The Senators are a very physical team to go against as they have seven players with over 100 hits, with captain Brady Tkachuk leading the way. It’s clear that he’s made for this kind of season and he’ll get his chance. They play a heavy brand of hockey where they’re punishing their opponents on the forecheck. That was clearly evident in the regular season. Related: Daring to Read Too Much Into Maple Leafs Last Game of the Season However, the Maple Leafs have guys that can match that physical presence as well. Simon Benoit (204), Steven Lorentz (199), Matthew Knies (182), Bobby McMann (136) and Jake McCabe (118) all provide that physical edge both up front and on the back end. They can play the body down low, along the boards and when defending against the rush, the Maple Leafs can definitely keep up with the physical play that comes in the postseason. With a rivalry renewing, you can bet the physicality will be at the forefront and the Maple Leafs should be ready with the players they have. Stolarz Out Plays Ullmark The story in goal is definitely going to be interesting. Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz has a Stanley Cup ring to his name and despite winning the Vezina Trophy with the Boston Bruins and having regular season success, Linus Ullmark hasn’t had good results in the playoffs as he has a career save percentage of .887 and a 3.59 goals against average. Whoever has the better performance in goal will be the difference maker in this series. Anthony Stolarz, Toronto Maple Leafs (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers) Even though he doesn’t have the experience in the playoffs, Stolarz could have an edge. In the last 10 starts, he has been unbeatable, posting a .937 SV%, a 1.70 GAA and three shutouts. He’s clearly the Game 1 starter and his confidence appears to be sky high heading into the playoffs. The Maple Leafs have lacked a goaltender that can shut the door and make the timely saves the team needs him to make in order to secure a victory. Stolarz has done just that this season and down the stretch. At 5-on-5 with a minimum of 1,000 minutes played, he has the best SV% and high danger save percentage with .944 and .875 respectively and the third best goals saved above average with 24.19. He’s the best goaltender the Maple Leafs have had and he can propel them to victory. The Power Play is Clicking The Maple Leafs’ power play was absolutely abysmal against the Bruins in the playoffs as they only scored once and had a 4.8% conversion rate. That’s definitely going to have to be better this time around as converting on your power play opportunities could be the difference maker between moving on and going home. This time around, the power play is in a better spot in terms of overall structure and scoring. While they haven’t converted as of late, the ability to still generate on their opportunities remains. If they can capitalize, then that’ll be great news for a power play with star talent that fails to connect on it during the playoffs. The movement and confidence are there and they’re not being too passive in their setup. They could look to be better on the entries, but when they do, they’re dangerous. Related: Revisiting the Maple Leafs’ Playoff Dominance of the Ottawa Senators in the Battle of Ontario This is matchup that many have wanted to see and despite the scars of the past playoff performances, this is not the same as previous seasons. They’re more balanced and deeper on the back end, they have goaltending and the forwards have a done a good job to still produce while playing a new system. Their play alone down this stretch should make them feel more confident that they can play a brand of playoff hockey and succeed in the process. This is a completely different team compared to the last postseason and they’re poised to continue to re-write their history. The Senators stand in their way and they need to be ready. Statistics from Hockey Reference, NHL and Natural Stat Trick.