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Senators Keep Playoff Hopes Alive with Overtime Win Against Maple Leafs
OTTAWA – The Ottawa Senators have shown resilience in the Battle of Ontario, as they secured a vital victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, winning 4-3 in overtime. Jake Sanderson scored the decisive goal at 17:32 of the extra period, coming through in a critical moment for his team. This marks the Senators’ first playoff win since the 2017 Eastern Conference finals.
Despite this win, the Maple Leafs maintain a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series, with Game 5 scheduled for Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
In addition to Sanderson’s goal, the Senators featured contributions from Tim Stutzle, Shane Pinto, and David Perron, who also scored. Goalie Linus Ullmark made an impressive 32 saves, while Sanderson added an assist, marking a strong performance overall.
For the Maple Leafs, John Tavares, Matthew Knies, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson each scored, with Anthony Stolarz saving 18 shots during the match. William Nylander provided two assists, illustrating his impact on the ice.
Historically, only four NHL teams have managed to overcome a 3-0 series deficit to win their playoff matchups: the 1942 Leafs, the 1975 New York Islanders, the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers, and the 2014 Los Angeles Kings.
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In previous encounters, Toronto entered the game riding an eight-game winning streak from the regular season. The Maple Leafs have had a competitive historical edge over the Senators, defeating them four times in five playoff meetings in the early 2000s, including a first-round sweep in 2001.
In a thrilling overtime, Ottawa managed to kill off a four-minute power play for Toronto after Drake Batherson’s double-minor for high-sticking. The Leafs’ captain, Auston Matthews, came close, hitting the post during a chaotic scramble.
Perron’s goal, which broke a 2-2 tie in the third period, came at 7:32, following a clever setup by defenceman Artem Zub. This electrified the Senators’ home crowd, eager for a playoff victory after eight years of absence from postseason play.
As time dwindled, Ekman-Larsson managed to tie the game for Toronto with just 5:29 left in regulation, capitalizing on a pass from Nylander. The Senators initially took charge, beginning with a power play goal from Stutzle at 9:03 of the first period, following a roughing penalty against Leafs’ winger Max Domi.
Continuing the pressure, Ottawa extended their lead to 2-0 on a shorthanded goal by Pinto, who displayed tenacity by deftly maneuvering past Mitch Marner before beating Stolarz at 14:11.
The Leafs finally got on the scoreboard late in the first period. Tavares redirected a slick pass from Nylander past Ullmark with just 54.4 seconds remaining. Early in the second frame, Senators’ captain Brady Tkachuk nearly restored the two-goal advantage when he hit the post before Toronto leveled the score with Knies’ goal at 10:12.
In other news, the NHL imposed fines on Senators forward Nick Cousins and the team for unsportsmanlike conduct during warm-ups before Game 3, reflecting the intensity and competitiveness of this playoff series.
With momentum shifting, both teams are eager to find an edge in the upcoming matches, as the series continues to unfold.
Source
globalnews.ca