In their first playoff appearance in eight years, the Ottawa Senators struggled to find their footing, falling 6-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the opening game of their first-round playoff series at Scotiabank Arena.
Undisciplined Play Costs Ottawa Early
The Senators’ lack of composure proved costly, as undisciplined penalties gave the Leafs ample power play opportunities. Toronto capitalized on three of their six chances with the man advantage, highlighting Ottawa’s shaky penalty kill and lack of discipline.
“We definitely have to stay out of the box,” said Senators head coach Travis Green. “There were a couple of calls I thought they did a good job selling, but we just can’t take that many penalties. It’s tough on the referees, but tougher on us when we’re short-handed that often.”
Tim Stützle’s early boarding penalty set the tone, and the Maple Leafs scored just nine seconds into the power play. Moments later, Ridly Greig’s unnecessary cross-check on John Tavares resulted in another Toronto goal, quickly digging a hole too deep for Ottawa to climb out of.
Ullmark Struggles Behind a Disorganized Defense
Goaltender Linus Ullmark faced a barrage of quality scoring chances early and allowed four goals on the first 10 shots. Despite making several key saves, including a tipped shot from Tavares, Ullmark received little defensive support as Toronto’s forwards were repeatedly left unmarked in prime scoring positions.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson and William Nylander found open space in the slot to convert on their chances, while Mitch Marner netted a breakaway goal. Tavares later cashed in on a rebound, pushing Toronto’s lead further before the first intermission.
Morgan Rielly and Matthew Knies added third-period goals, the latter once again on the power play, to seal the victory for the Leafs.
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Senators Show Flashes, But Can’t Capitalize
Despite being outscored, Ottawa did show signs of life. Forward Drake Batherson silenced the sellout crowd late in the first period by finishing a rebound after Dylan Cozens’ shot tested Leafs netminder Anthony Stolarz. The goal brought Ottawa within one at 2-1, but missed opportunities early in the second period proved fatal.
Brady Tkachuk was denied on a breakaway by Stolarz, and Shane Pinto was stopped point-blank moments later. The Leafs’ timely saves were pivotal in maintaining their momentum.
“Timely saves are huge, especially in the playoffs,” said Toronto head coach Craig Berube. “They go a long way in building confidence and keeping momentum.”
Momentum Slips Away in the Third
Ottawa’s hopes of mounting a comeback were dashed when Batherson took a tripping penalty with just seconds left in the second period. Though the Senators managed to kill the penalty, they couldn’t regain momentum.
Greig later scored to cut the deficit to 4-2 during a delayed penalty call, but the Leafs responded swiftly. Just 45 seconds later, Rielly restored Toronto’s three-goal lead. With Batherson in the box for cross-checking, Knies capitalized again to make it 6-2, effectively ending any hope of a Senators comeback.
“I’m not going to say anything about the reffing, but calls are calls and that’s the game,” said Batherson. “We’ve just got to be more disciplined. We can’t give those guys that many looks.”
A Must-Win Game 2 on the Horizon
Ottawa outshot Toronto 33-24, showing they could generate offense, but lacked finish and composure when it mattered most. The Senators now face a critical Game 2 on Tuesday in Toronto before the series shifts to Canadian Tire Centre for Games 3 and 4.
The Senators finished the regular season with a record of 45-30-7 and clinched the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card spot with 97 points. Toronto, boasting a 52-26-4 record and 108 points, claimed the top seed in the Atlantic Division.
Though the Senators swept the Leafs in their three regular-season meetings, the postseason is proving to be a different animal. The team did not open the locker room to the media after the loss, but several players spoke briefly in the hallway, and Coach Green addressed reporters in the media center.
Ottawa will need to adjust quickly and find their playoff composure if they hope to even the series before returning home. Game 2 could determine whether their playoff return becomes a story of redemption—or a short-lived disappointment.
