The Ottawa Senators showcased their resilience in the Battle of Ontario by defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime during Game 4 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday. This victory marked the Senators' first post-season win since the 2017 Eastern Conference final, as Jake Sanderson netted the game-winning goal at 17:42 of overtime.
Sanderson's shot, which found its way through a dense screen, proved pivotal in reviving the Senators' hopes in the series. Despite Ottawa's strong start, where they took a 2-0 lead, the Maple Leafs fought back to tie the game and ultimately push it into extra time. With this win, the Senators now carry a glimmer of hope in the best-of-seven matchup, although the Maple Leafs still maintain a 3-1 series lead. The decisive Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Contributing to Ottawa's scoring were Tim Stutzle, Shane Pinto, and David Perron, each of whom found the back of the net. Goaltender Linus Ullmark played a significant role in the victory, making 32 saves, while Sanderson added an assist for a two-point performance. On the other side, the Maple Leafs' goals came from John Tavares, Matthew Knies, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, with Anthony Stolarz stopping 18 shots between the pipes. William Nylander assisted on two of Toronto’s goals, further solidifying his impact on the series.
Historically, comeback victories from a 3-0 deficit in NHL playoff series have been rare, with only four teams achieving such a feat. The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, 1975 New York Islanders, 2010 Philadelphia Flyers, and 2014 Los Angeles Kings stand as exceptions. The Senators entered this playoff series after an eight-year absence and aimed to overturn their recent history against the Leafs, who had previously dominated in playoff encounters, including a sweep in 2001.
During overtime, the Senators faced a challenging situation with a four-minute penalty kill after forward Drake Batherson was penalized for high-sticking. The momentum swung with a thrilling scramble in front of Ullmark’s net, where Toronto’s captain Auston Matthews hit the post, showcasing the high stakes of the match. Just before overtime, Perron had given Ottawa a 3-2 lead in the third period, scoring after receiving a brilliant pass from defenseman Artem Zub, generating excitement from the home crowd.
As the game drew to a close, Ekman-Larsson leveled the score for Toronto, which added to the tension and led to a dramatic overtime finish. Ottawa had initially opened the scoring in the first period with a power-play goal from Stutzle, who capitalized on a roughing penalty against Toronto's Max Domi. Shortly after, Pinto extended the Senators' lead with a short-handed goal, putting Ottawa ahead 2-0.
Toronto began to claw back with Tavares scoring just before the first period concluded. In a low-intensity second period, Knies managed to find the net, ultimately sending the game into overtime, where Sanderson sealed the win for Ottawa. This thrilling contest highlights the fervor of NHL playoffs, reinforcing the significance of each game's outcome as teams vie for an opportunity to advance.
