The Maple Leafs have qualified for the playoffs each of the past nine seasons but with only one series victory in that span. They lost in seven games to the Boston Bruins in the first round last season. The Senators last made the playoffs in 2017, when they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games in the conference final.

With their 4–0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, the Leafs secured the division title and set up a long-awaited playoff rematch against the Ottawa Senators. This is the Leafs' first full-season division crown in 25 years and their first since the NHL created the Atlantic in 2013.

The Maple Leafs secured the North division crown in 2021 during the COVID-19 season, but this was clearly different. With a fresh head coach who implemented new systems, Toronto f