OTTAWA – The Maple Leafs seemed to be in deep trouble.
Previous iterations of the storied Authentic Six franchise — one with loads of playoff ache each current and a distant reminiscence — may need caved after being knocked off its axis at a vital second in a hostile atmosphere.
Senators ahead David Perron had simply tied Recreation 6 with a third-period objective from beneath the objective line off the again of netminder Anthony Stolarz to ship a towel-waving, incandescent Canadian Tire Centre right into a frenzy.
These Leafs, nonetheless, have seemed totally different most of this season. A special power. A special really feel. They confirmed it once more Thursday.
Calm, cool, composed. And off to the second spherical of the Stanley Cup playoffs. It simply took somewhat longer than they might have preferred.
Max Pacioretty scored the winner with 5:39 left in regulation as Toronto beat Ottawa 4-2 to take the best-of-seven Battle of Ontario in six video games.
William Nylander, with two objectives and an help, and Auston Matthews offered the remainder of the offence for the Leafs, who led the collection 3-0 earlier than their provincial rival received two straight to place strain on a star-studded roster combating demons of failures previous. Pacioretty added an help for a two-point night time.
“Nothing else actually issues,” mentioned Matthews, Toronto’s captain. “The surface stuff doesn’t actually matter. It’s concerning the guys which are in our room, and the idea in each other, doing it for each other.
“This one feels good.”
Stolarz made 21 saves as Toronto improved to 2-13 in potential series-clinching video games since 2018 — an period led by Matthews, Nylander and Mitch Marner — and superior within the post-season for simply the second time in additional than 20 years.
Associated Movies
“We’re taking part in for one another,” Stolarz mentioned. “Everybody is aware of their function, everybody is aware of their job. Now we have the boldness.”
Get breaking Nationwide information
For information impacting Canada and all over the world, join breaking information alerts delivered on to you once they occur.
The Leafs now face a troublesome check within the second spherical in opposition to the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers after they disposed of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 5 video games.
“We had been searching,” Nylander mentioned. “Unbelievable workforce effort.”
Brady Tkachuk had the opposite objective for the Senators, who made the playoffs for the primary time since 2017 following an extended and painful rebuild. Linus Ullmark stopped 19 pictures. Thomas Chabot chipped in two assists.
“I actually believed that we had been going to return again and win the sport,” Tkachuk mentioned. “Simply robust, simply robust.”
Toronto grabbed a 3-0 collection edge with a blowout opener and a pair of 3-2 time beyond regulation victories, however Ottawa stayed alive with a 4-3 OT determination in Recreation 4 and a 4-0 shutout in Recreation 5 that prompted the collective blood strain of a tortured fan base to rise considerably.
“We got here in right here with somewhat bit totally different mindset,” mentioned Toronto head coach Craig Berube, employed final spring to get the Authentic Six franchise over its post-season hump. “It wasn’t do-or-die, however we needed to complete it off right here.
“Just a little bit extra aggressive and on our toes.”
Solely 4 NHL groups have come again from a 3-0 deficit to win a collection — the 1942 Leafs, 1975 Islanders, the 2010 Flyers and the 2014 Kings.
“They’ve taken an enormous step,” first-year Senators head coach Travis Inexperienced mentioned of his group. “It’s not simple to make the playoffs. It’s even more durable after you do.”
Pacioretty, a heathy scratch the primary two video games, bagged the winner off a move from Max Domi that beat Ullmark to the glove facet by a display screen for his first objective of the post-season.
Scott Laughton hit the publish with an opportunity to ship the dagger for Toronto earlier than Nylander iced it into the empty internet with 18.3 seconds left on the clock after combating off Jake Sanderson.
Pacioretty, who blew his proper Achilles tendon twice in lower than 12 months within the twilight of his profession earlier than coping with a pair accidents this season, contemplated retirement quite a lot of instances, however selected to push on.
It paid off Thursday.
“I believed that I used to be performed taking part in quite a lot of instances,” mentioned the 36-year-old winger. “My story is only one of many. However there’s lots of resilient guys on this group, been by loads as effectively.
“Guys like that inspire me to maintain going.”
Matthews opened Tuesday’s scoring on an influence play with 70 seconds left within the first interval when he fired a low shot by visitors for his second.
Elevated to the second line alongside Nylander and John Tavares to start out Recreation 6, Pacioretty hit Ullmark’s publish earlier within the interval throughout a scramble earlier than Ottawa counterpart Tim Stutzle obtained his alerts crossed on the different finish on an amazing alternative.
Nylander, who turned 29 on Thursday, made it 2-0 simply 43 seconds into the center interval when he ripped his second after Pacioretty pressured a turnover.
Ottawa obtained on the board at 7:28 when Tkachuk — a bodily power all six video games — tipped in his fourth.
Toronto, which beat Ottawa 4 instances in 5 playoffs within the early 2000s, got here near restoring its two-goal lead when Tavares poked a free puck off the publish.
Chabot fired a shot that Stutzle additionally tipped off the iron early within the third. The Senators went to the facility play halfway by the interval and didn’t get something going, however Perron scored with 7:20 left in regulation on that shot off Stolarz to arrange the dramatic end — and the flipping of a well-known script.
“That’s a hard-earned collection,” Matthews mentioned. “Transfer on to the following one.”
The champs are ready.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Might 1, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
Source link