The Ottawa Senators are facing a tough challenge after losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs in overtime on Thursday night. Now down 3-0 in their first playoff series in eight years, the Senators need a miracle to keep their season alive. Even though they fought hard, a late goal sealed their fate in Game 3.
A Special Night That Ended in Disappointment
The Senators were excited to play their first home playoff game since May 23, 2017. Captain Brady Tkachuk got the home crowd roaring by scoring first, and he later forced the game into overtime. However, in extra time, Toronto defenseman Simon Benoit fired a slapshot from near the blue line. The puck went through a crowd of players and just beat goalie Linus Ullmark, who reacted a fraction too late.
Now, the Senators are on the verge of being eliminated. After the game, Tkachuk stayed positive, recalling a famous comeback in sports history.
Tkachuk Believes a Comeback is Possible
Tkachuk shared some inspiration from baseball, saying, “This isn’t what we hoped for, but let’s make it the hardest challenge yet.” He referred to the 2004 American League Championship Series, where the Boston Red Sox came back from a 0-3 deficit to beat the New York Yankees. The Red Sox went on to win the World Series, breaking an 86-year title drought known as the “Curse of the Bambino.”
Tkachuk believes the Senators can also defy the odds and make a historic comeback.
Tough Losses and Talks of Bad Luck
For the second straight game, Ottawa lost in overtime to a team they’ve never beaten in a playoff series. Some fans are even starting to talk about a “curse.”
Goalie Linus Ullmark said after the game, “We’re battling hard and doing a lot of good things, but sometimes you need a bit of luck too. You’ve got to earn it every night.”
Coach Travis Green stayed calm and positive. He said that even though they lost, he doesn’t feel the team needs to change much, mentioning that Toronto got a few lucky bounces.
Senators Outplayed the Leafs But Fell Short
According to stats from naturalstattrick.com, Ottawa had more scoring chances and dangerous plays than Toronto in Game 3. Toronto had 2.32 expected goals compared to Ottawa’s 2.25, but Toronto scored three goals to Ottawa’s two.
Goalie Anthony Stolarz made 18 saves for Toronto, while Ullmark made 17. Toronto also won the special-teams battle again, scoring once on two power plays and killing three out of four penalties.
To stay alive, the Senators will need to win more faceoffs, attack the low slot area better, and dominate on special teams in the next game.
Home Crowd Brought the Energy
Even though some Maple Leafs fans managed to grab tickets, the crowd at Canadian Tire Centre was electric. A total of 19,073 fans showed up and made plenty of noise.
Tkachuk called it “probably the coolest atmosphere” he’s ever played in, saying he got chills when he stepped onto the ice. He also urged the fans to bring that same energy for Game 4, promising that the team would fight hard to find a way to win.
The Ottawa Senators have their backs against the wall, but they aren’t giving up yet. Inspired by history and motivated by their passionate fans, they hope to turn the series around, one game at a time. With strong performances, some better luck, and the roar of their home crowd, the Senators still believe in a miracle. Game 4 will be their biggest test yet, and they are determined to give it everything they’ve got.
