The Battle of Ontario is reaching a boiling point, as the Ottawa Senators face the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4 of their first-round series. After winning 3-2 in overtime on Thursday, the Leafs now lead the series 3-0 and are on the verge of completing a sweep. However, Ottawa isn’t going down without a fight, as they’ve shown moments of strength throughout the series, especially at even strength.
Leafs Take a 3-0 Series Lead
In Game 3, Toronto pulled off a hard-fought 3-2 victory thanks to a dramatic overtime goal from defenseman Simon Benoit. The Leafs have had the upper hand when it comes to special teams, and their goaltender, Anthony Stolarz, has been better than Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark, but Ottawa has been the stronger team at even strength.
The Leafs will keep their lineup unchanged for Game 4, while the Senators held an optional skate on Saturday and will not reveal any lineup changes until just before the game starts.
Game Recap: Overtime Thrills and Big Moments
Overtime: Sens Fight Back but Fall Short
At 4:37 of overtime, Ottawa’s Drake Batherson received a double-minor for high-sticking against Chris Tanev, and Toronto capitalized on the power play. However, just as the game was nearing its end, Ottawa made a stunning comeback. Jake Sanderson scored the game-winning goal at 17:42, sealing a 4-3 win for the Senators.
Third Period Drama: Sens Rally to Take the Lead
The period started with the Leafs holding a 2-1 lead, but things quickly changed. At 7:32, Ottawa’s David Perron scored a tip-in goal to give the Senators a 3-2 lead after a big hit on Holmberg by Tkachuk.
But Toronto wasn’t done yet. At 14:31, Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored a huge goal, assisted by William Nylander, to tie the game 3-3. The final shots on goal in the third period were heavily in Toronto’s favor (7 shots for the Leafs and just 3 for Ottawa).
Second Period: Leafs Keep the Pressure On
Toronto was pressing hard in the second period, and after some back-and-forth play, the Leafs tied things up at 2-2. Matthew Knies beat Ullmark to score, taking advantage of a delayed penalty situation.
At the end of the second period, Toronto led the shot count 18-11, showing their offensive dominance despite Ottawa’s efforts to stay in the game.
First Period: Ottawa Takes the Lead
The game started slow, with both teams being cautious in the opening minutes. But a careless penalty by Max Domi gave Ottawa the chance they needed, and Tim Stutzle capitalized on the power play, putting the Sens up 1-0.
The game became more physical as it went on. Ottawa’s Shane Pinto then broke away and scored short-handed, putting Ottawa up 2-0. But just before the first period ended, Toronto got on the board with a deflection goal by John Tavares, making it 2-1.
What’s Next for Ottawa and Toronto?
With a 3-0 series lead, Toronto is just one win away from sweeping Ottawa and advancing to the next round. But the Senators have been resilient and are showing that they can compete, especially at even strength. Ottawa will need to come out strong in Game 4 if they hope to avoid elimination.
The Leafs will look to keep their strong special teams play going while hoping Stolarz can maintain his high-level play in goal. With the series on the line for Ottawa, expect Game 4 to be filled with intensity and urgency.
The Battle of Ontario has been full of drama, and with the Leafs leading 3-0, Game 4 is a must-win for Ottawa. Toronto has the edge in special teams and goaltending, but the Sens have been strong at even strength and are ready to fight for another game. It’s all to play for as the series heads toward a potential conclusion, with Toronto hoping to sweep and Ottawa fighting to keep their playoff dreams alive.
