In a dramatic Game 2 clash of the Battle of Ontario, Max Domi played the hero’s role, scoring the overtime winner to give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night. With the win, the Leafs now hold a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series, inching closer to the second round and deeper into a hopeful postseason run.
The Scotiabank Arena was electric as Domi took the puck into the offensive zone just over three minutes into overtime and fired a blistering shot over Ottawa goaltender Linus Ullmark’s glove for his first goal of the postseason. The goal came after Toronto had seen a 2-0 lead evaporate late in regulation, adding a layer of redemption to the win.
Early Leafs Lead, Senators Response
Toronto came out strong in the first period, opening the scoring at 3:43. Mitch Marner hit the post just moments before Morgan Rielly, charging hard to the net, redirected a William Nylander centering pass into the goal for his second of the series.
The Leafs extended their lead midway through the first on their first power-play opportunity. Captain John Tavares sent a puck into the crease that deflected off Ottawa defenceman Nick Jensen and slid past Ullmark for a 2-0 edge.
Despite trailing, Ottawa showed signs of resilience. The Senators had several dangerous looks during their early power plays, but Leafs netminder Anthony Stolarz stood tall, making four key saves — including point-blank stops on Dylan Cozens and Brady Tkachuk.
Senators Mount a Comeback
Tensions boiled over late in the second period, when Stolarz engaged Ottawa’s Ridly Greig following a net-front collision — a continuation of bad blood from Game 1. Both players received matching minors, and the sequence seemed to energize the visitors.
Shortly after, Tkachuk, who was once again the target of “Brady sucks!” chants from the Toronto faithful, cut the deficit to one. On a power play, his pass toward the crease deflected off Toronto’s Brandon Carlo and past Stolarz at 15:41 of the second period.
In the third period, Tavares had a prime opportunity to restore the two-goal cushion, but Jake Sanderson’s backcheck disrupted the chance. Ottawa capitalized on the missed opportunity with just over five minutes left in regulation. After a costly turnover by Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Adam Gaudette redirected a point shot into the net to even the score at 2-2, setting the stage for the overtime finish.
Also Read: Australia’s Top 7 Casinos to Visit in 2025
Playoff History on the Line
With Tuesday’s win, the Maple Leafs take a 2-0 series lead for the first time since 2002. In their storied playoff history, Toronto is a perfect 10-0 in series where they’ve opened with two home victories. The early success also marks just the second time during the Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner era that the team has had such a cushion.
Meanwhile, the Senators head back to Ottawa facing a daunting statistic — they have never won a playoff series after losing the first two games. For a franchise returning to the postseason after an eight-year drought, the pressure is now squarely on them to respond in front of their home crowd.
Captains with a Unique Twist
This series marks a first in NHL history: two Canadian teams captained by U.S.-born players facing off in the postseason. Matthews, hailing from Arizona, and Tkachuk, from St. Louis, are both central to their teams’ identities and are now adding a fresh narrative to the cross-border rivalry.
Berube Embracing the Battle
Leafs head coach Craig Berube, who joined the team this season with a Stanley Cup on his resume from his time in St. Louis, acknowledged the heated rivalry. “There’s some hatred there, for sure,” Berube quipped before the game. “It’s pretty good. I enjoy it.” His team’s gritty win Tuesday night proved they’re embracing the emotion as much as the tactics.
What’s Next?
The series now shifts to Ottawa for Games 3 and 4 at the Canadian Tire Centre, beginning Thursday. The Senators must regroup quickly if they hope to make the series competitive. For the Leafs, momentum is on their side, but they’ll be aware that playoff hockey can turn in an instant.
Game 3 promises intensity, desperation, and no shortage of storylines as these longtime rivals continue to write a new chapter in their storied postseason history.
