Maple Leafs Avert Elimination Once More: Narrow Battle of Ontario Series Deficit to 3-2
Toronto's Playoff struggle continues against Ottawa
The Ottawa Senators refuse to give up ground in the Battle of Ontario, edging the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0 in Game 5, shrinking the deficit to 3-2 in their first-round series.
Linus Ullmark, the Ottawa goalie, registered his first career playoff shutout with 27 stellar saves. Meanwhile, Thomas Chabot and Dylan Cozens scored two goals each for the Senators, with Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle adding empty-netters. Anthony Stolarz of the Leafs managed 15 saves.
The Senators, who haven't won a playoff game since 2017, keep their season alive once again after a hard-fought 4-3 overtime victory in Game 4. Tkachuk and Stutzle each had two assists, making for three-point performances.
Toronto holds a history of playoff heartbreak, dropping to 1-13 in potential series-clinching games during the Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner era. The only successful attempt came in a first-round win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023.
The Leafs took the series opener 6-2 but saw their momentum slip in the following two games, both ending in overtime losses for Toronto.
Ottawa broke the deadlock at 3:46 of the second period, as Chabot unleashed a point shot that found a path through traffic to elude Stolarz, marking Chabot's first playoff goal.
Toronto seemed rattled, but Ullmark stood strong, denying Marner on a close-range chance and preventing Fabian Zetterlund from finding the mark on a point-blank effort.
Steven Lorentz had a glorious opportunity on a 2-on-0 breakaway but failed to convert, while Stolarz made a crucial stop on Tkachuk from the slot early in the third period.
When Ridly Greig needlessly tackled Marner, the Leafs got a power play, but the Senators raced the other way and Cozens slotted home a short-handed goal on the 2-on-1 with Adam Gaudette.
Auston Matthews, who hit the post in overtime in Game 4, found the post yet again with five minutes remaining in the third period before Stutzle struck into the empty net to seal the win.
The Leafs will attempt to regroup for Game 6, which they'll play in Ottawa on April 29, 2025, with the necessary win to advance. Against all odds, the Senators cling to hope, eager to force a Game 7 for a thrilling finish to this intense series.
As the series heads back to Ottawa, it remains to be seen if the Senators can capitalize on the Leafs' historical struggles to close out series, or if Toronto's early momentum resurfaces to secure a spot in the next round.
Note: This article is a reimagined version of the original analysis. It has been restructured for clarity, revised for sentence variation, and presents enrichment data to enhance the reading experience, while ensuring reader satisfaction.
Enrichment Data:- Toronto's Playoff woes: The Maple Leafs currently trail the Senators 3-2 in the series. With Toronto needing to secure one win to advance, the Leafs face their 1-13 record in potential series-clinching games during the Matthews-Marner era (since 2018) - their only victory was against Tampa Bay in 2023.- Historical comebacks: Only a handful of teams, such as the 1942 Maple Leafs, 1975 Islanders, 2010 Flyers, and 2014 Kings, have come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series.- Head-to-head: Toronto holds a 72-52 goal advantage across 28 playoff meetings, although this marks their first series against Ottawa since the early 2000s.
- The Ottawa Senators added fuel to their historical comebacks, scoring a 4-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 5, reducing the deficit to 3-2 in their series.
- Thomas Chabot, from the Ottawa Senators, scored his first playoff goal in the second period of Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, marking a significant moment in the 2025 NHL playoffs.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs, despite adding more hockey goals overall against the Ottawa Senators, have faced sorrow in the 2025 NHL playoffs, withstanding a 72-52 goal advantage across their 28 playoff meetings.
- As the series progresses towards Game 6, scheduled for April 29, 2025, in Ottawa, the Toronto Maple Leafs face a challenging task, needing to overcome their 1-13 record in potential series-clinching games during the Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner era.
