Toronto Maple Leafs Set New Single-Season Franchise Record With Win Over the Sabres

Given how good some of the most recent Toronto Maple Leafs squads have been over the past few seasons, the 2024-25 iteration may just be the best.

With a renewed focus on defense, reliable and consistent goaltending for the first time in decades, and some pretty surprising resurgences have led Craig Berube to make some history in his first year with the team, already the winningest debut coach in the franchise's century-plus tenure in the league.

The Maple Leafs normally have a bit of a difficult time away from Scotiabank Arena at times, and are often the focus of fans attention when they head elsewhere, being mercilessly booed and jeered. But it seems to have given them some extra motivation.

With the victory at Keybank Center in Buffalo, Toronto secured their 25th road win of the season, setting another franchise record and beating out last year's total, which is also the record at 24.

Thanks to the efforts of Steven Lorentz and Mitch Marner, and the yet again outstanding goaltending of Anthony Stolarz, it was seemingly business as usual for Berube's team.

Speaking of history, the goal gave Marner 100 points for the first time in his career, in what could be a huge momentum shift heading into the playoffs, as well as Auston Matthews scoring his 400th goal on an empty net, with Toronto scoring a 4-0 shutout victory.

It just goes to show that no matter where the Maple Leafs end up playing, the noise doesn't get to them and have nerves of steel and ice cold blood to persevere and resist anything the fans or the opposition might do or say.

It's also a huge advantage going into the playoffs, as you're only going to get a handful of games away from home and you're going to need every advantage you can get; including ignoring rowdy fans.

If this is any indication of what we can expect from the team going forward, we can definitely anticipate that next season they may break the record again, and with a team more in line with their coach and a full season under their belt; granted everyone stays, there's no telling how good they can truly be.

What's great though is that the Leafs don't need to deal with a Boston crowd in the playoffs, and arguably the loudest teams they would face are Ottawa and Florida; so they better make sure they keep that road momentum riding high heading into the first and second round.

So if this is any sign of what is to come from Toronto on the road in the playoffs, they might not only be headed for a long playoff run, but end up lifting the Stanley Cup after all.

Whether at home or not, it looks like it won't matter.