Maple Leafs take 3-0 lead over Senators in Battle of Ontario
The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the brink of another Battle of Ontario victory and a trip to the second round of the NHL playoffs after a thrilling overtime win against the Ottawa Senators. Simon Benoit played the hero with a goal at 1:19 of overtime to secure a 3-2 victory for the Leafs, giving them a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies also found the back of the net for Toronto, while Anthony Stolarz made 18 saves to secure the win. On the other side, Claude Giroux and Brady Tkachuk scored for the Senators, with Linus Ullmark making 17 saves in a losing effort.
The Leafs dominated Game 1 with a 6-2 win in Toronto before securing a 3-2 overtime victory in Game 2. Matthews, who had been quiet in the series, finally broke through with a goal in the third period off a slick pass from Mitch Marner.
The Senators fought back, with Giroux scoring on a two-man advantage to give Ottawa its first lead of the series. Tkachuk tied the game with a goal in the third period, but it was Benoit’s overtime heroics that sealed the victory for Toronto.
The Senators, playing their first home playoff game since 2017, will look to avoid elimination in Game 4 on Saturday.
In a long-awaited return, Max Pacioretty suited up for the Leafs after a 75-day absence due to injury. The 36-year-old forward took the place of Nick Robertson in the lineup. Senators fans also had a long wait for playoff action, with 2,891 days passing between home playoff games. The last post-season game in Ottawa was on May 23, 2017, when the Senators faced off against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference final.
The atmosphere was electric as the Senators and Leafs battled it out on the ice, with both teams leaving it all on the line in a thrilling playoff matchup. As the series continues, the intensity is sure to ramp up as both teams fight for a spot in the next round of the playoffs. Stay tuned for more exciting playoff action as the Battle of Ontario heats up.
