Mitch Marner and his Maple Leafs have by no means had offensive points within the common season.
It’s been a unique matter solely when the calender flips to spring.
Toronto entered Sunday having put up two objectives or much less in 13 of its earlier 14 playoff video games. Final yr’s sequence towards the Boston Bruins noticed the membership join on simply one in every of 21 energy performs in a seven-game defeat.
For at the least one evening, the dam burst for a star-studded roster with designs on lastly making a deep run.
Marner had a aim and two assists because the Leafs dumped the Ottawa Senators 6-2 to take Sport 1 of their opening-round sequence — the primary playoff Battle of Ontario in additional than twenty years.
“We consider wins,” Marner stated of filling Linus Ullmark’s web. “We’ve received to sit up for the following one.”
William Nylander and John Tavares, with a aim and an help every, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Morgan Rielly and Matthew Knies additionally scored for Toronto. Anthony Stolarz made 31 saves.
Auston Matthews added two assists on a bodily evening that noticed the younger Senators pay a heavy value for an undisciplined strategy because the Leafs linked for 3 man-advantage objectives within the playoffs for the primary time since 1999.
“It was intense,” stated Tavares, who took a cross-check to the face from Ottawa ahead Ridly Greig that was diminished from a serious penalty to a minor upon evaluate. “It’s referred to as the Battle of Ontario for a cause. Arduous-fought recreation. However we all know we nonetheless generally is a lot higher.”
“Depth ramps up,” stated Toronto head coach Craig Berube, the person tasked with getting this group over its painful playoff hump. “Simply gotta go play.”
Greig and Drake Batherson had the objectives for Ottawa.
“Should refocus,” stated Ullmark after stopping 18-of-24 pictures. “It’s only one recreation. That’s the great thing about it.”
The very best-of-seven matchup continues Tuesday at Scotiabank Area earlier than shifting to the nation’s capital.
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The sequence opener marked precisely 21 years for the reason that groups final met within the playoffs when Toronto bested Ottawa 4-1 in Sport 7 on April 20, 2004.
The groups went in reverse instructions after that, with Ottawa having fun with a future of success, together with a visit to the 2007 Stanley Cup remaining, whereas Toronto made the post-season simply as soon as between 2006 and 2016.
The Leafs, who downed the Senators 4 occasions within the playoffs within the early 2000s, returned to the NHL’s spring dance in 2017 — the final time the Senators made the post-season — with a younger core led by Matthews, Marner and Nylander.
The Senators’ rebuild, in the meantime, took loads longer than anticipated, however lastly gained traction in 2024-25.
“All yr we’ve talked about committing to the method,” Senators head coach Travis Inexperienced stated. “It’s no totally different now.”
Toronto, which has one sequence victory in 9 tries within the Matthews-Marner period, opened the scoring at 7:09 of the primary interval when Ekman-Larsson fired the puck previous Ullmark to ignite the rink and ship followers gathered outside in Maple Leaf Sq. right into a frenzy.
“The ambiance was nice,” Stolarz stated after his first playoff begin. “Had goose bumps if you stepped on the ice and the group goes nuts. I feel that propelled us.”
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Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson cleared a puck off his aim line later within the interval, however Marner took a stretch cross from Matthews moments later and roofed a shot at 12:18 for a 2-0 lead.
Ottawa received on the board 4 minutes later when Batherson potted a rebound.
Stolarz stopped Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, who made his playoff debut in his seventh NHL season, on a breakaway early within the second earlier than the ability play went to work when Tavares scored at 4:07 to make it 3-1.
The Senators received in additional penalty hassle and Toronto struck three seconds right into a two-man benefit when Nylander ripped his workforce’s fourth aim on 10 pictures at 7:19.
Fabian Zetterlund had an incredible alternative on an Ottawa energy play late within the interval, however Stolarz was there once more to maintain the rating at 4-1 by means of 40 minutes.
“Some key saves at some actual key occasions,” Tavares stated. “Speaks to the competitor that he’s.”
Greig received the Senators inside two precisely 4 minutes into the third on a delayed penalty, however Rielly made it 5-2 simply 45 seconds in a while a shot that hit a Senators participant.
Knies rounded out the scoring on one other energy play at 13:13 to place a bow on a formidable opening-night efficiency from the Atlantic Division winners.
The message within the aftermath?
“It’s one recreation,” Berube stated. “It’s going to get more durable.”
NOT BITING
Toronto’s bench boss was requested in regards to the officers lowering Greig’s cross-check on Tavares to a minor within the second interval.
“Not my name,” Berube stated. “The referees and the league will have a look at issues and make the calls they make. We’re not going to concentrate on that.”
EARS RINGING
Tkachuk was the goal of quite a few unflattering chants from the well-lubricated, vacation weekend crowd all through Sport 1.
“I may care much less,” he stated. “I don’t actually give a (expletive) to be trustworthy with you … that’s not going to have an effect on me.”
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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