Senators beat Leafs to stave off elimination again, cut Battle of Ontario deficit to 3-2

The Ottawa Senators continue to show resilience in the Battle of Ontario, refusing to go down without a fight. In a stunning performance, goaltender Linus Ullmark earned his first playoff shutout, making 27 saves as the Senators defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0 on Tuesday night. This victory narrowed the gap in the first-round matchup to 3-2, keeping Ottawa’s playoff hopes alive.

The Senators came out strong with goals from Thomas Chabot and Dylan Cozens to take a 2-0 lead. Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk sealed the win with empty-net goals, with Tkachuk and Stutzle both contributing two assists each for three-point performances. On the other side, Anthony Stolarz made 15 saves for the Leafs but couldn’t prevent the Senators from dominating the game.

With this win, the Senators have once again avoided elimination after their thrilling overtime victory in Game 4. Only four NHL teams have managed to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series, making Ottawa’s performance even more impressive.

Game 6 is set to take place in the nation’s capital at Canadian Tire Centre, where the Senators will look to continue their comeback against the Leafs. Toronto, historically dominant against Ottawa in the playoffs, struggled to close out the series despite taking an early lead.

The game saw Ottawa open the scoring in the second period with a goal from Chabot, followed by a short-handed goal from Cozens. Despite Toronto’s efforts to rally back, Ullmark stood strong in goal, denying the Leafs any opportunity to get on the scoreboard.

The Leafs, known for their postseason struggles, will need to regroup and come back stronger in Game 6 to avoid a potential upset from the Senators. With star players like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner leading the way, Toronto will be looking to secure their spot in the next round of the playoffs.

As the series continues to unfold, both teams will be looking to make their mark in this historic rivalry. With the Senators fighting to stay alive and the Leafs aiming to close out the series, Game 6 promises to be a thrilling showdown between these two Canadian powerhouses.