Mitch Marner led the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on April 20, 2025. Marner contributed significantly with one goal and two assists, marking a strong start for the Leafs in the playoffs.
The scoring onslaught for Toronto included goals from William Nylander and John Tavares, who each recorded a goal and an assist. Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, along with Morgan Rielly and rookie Matthew Knies, also found the back of the net, while goaltender Anthony Stolarz made 31 saves to secure the win. Auston Matthews provided two assists, further underlining his playmaking abilities.
On the other side, Ottawa managed to score twice, with Drake Batherson and Ridly Greig lighting up the scoreboard. Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark faced a tough evening, making 18 saves in the loss.
This best-of-seven series is a highly anticipated matchup, rekindling the fierce rivalry known as the Battle of Ontario. The showdown continues with Game 2 scheduled for Tuesday at the Scotiabank Arena before the series moves to Ottawa for subsequent games.
Interestingly, this playoff matchup marks the first time in 21 years that these two teams have met in the playoffs, with the last encounter occurring on April 20, 2004, when Toronto defeated Ottawa in Game 7. Since that time, the trajectories of the franchises have diverged significantly. Ottawa enjoyed an extended run of success, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2007, while Toronto struggled, making the playoffs only once between 2006 and 2016.
Following their return to the playoffs in 2017, the Leafs have gradually built a formidable young core around stars like Matthews, Marner, and Nylander. Ottawa, on the other hand, has been in a prolonged rebuild but has made substantial progress recently, gaining momentum in the 2024-25 season. Notably, Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk made his playoff debut in this game, marking a significant milestone in his career.
The scoring started at 7:09 of the first period when Ekman-Larsson found the net, unleashing celebrations from the crowd at Scotiabank Arena and fans gathered in Maple Leaf Square. Moments later, Marner extended the lead to 2-0 with a precise shot after receiving a stretch pass from Matthews.
Ottawa found their way onto the scoreboard at the 11:18 mark of the first period, as Batherson capitalized on a rebound that Stolarz could not control. The Leafs continued to apply pressure, and Tavares increased the lead to 3-1 early in the second period through his own rebound, further asserting Toronto's dominance.
The Senators faced challenges with penalties, and Nylander took advantage of a two-man advantage, scoring Toronto's fourth goal on just ten shots at 7:19 of the second period. Despite Ottawa's efforts, including a great opportunity from Fabian Zetterlund on a power play, they headed into the third period trailing 4-1 after a solid performance from Stolarz.
Greig brought Ottawa back within two goals at the start of the third period, but Rielly responded just 45 seconds later to make it 5-2. Knies capped off the scoring for the evening with another power-play goal at 13:13, sealing a commanding performance by the Atlantic Division champions.
In light of the matchup's significant historical context, Ottawa head coach Travis Green remarked on the pressure of competing in such a high-stakes series. The excitement and "outside noise" were palpable, reflecting the fierce rivalry that defines the Battle of Ontario. Green acknowledged the thrill of the competition and hopes for a continued entertaining series.
