Sens Edge Leafs in Overtime as Sanderson Nets Victory Goal, Reducing Battle of Ontario Series Deficit to 3-1
Tonight's Showdown: Senators Keep Battle of Ontario Alive in Thrilling OT Win
Ottawa, baby! Jake Sanderson scores the game-winner at 17:32 of overtime to clinch a 4-3 victory for the Senators, preventing a possible sweep in the teams' first-round playoff series against Toronto.
The Maple Leafs still lead the best-of-seven matchup 3-1, with Game 5 scheduled for Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena. This triumph marks the Senators' first post-season victory since their 2017 Eastern Conference final run.
Scoring Highlights:- Tim Stutzle, Shane Pinto, and David Perron found the back of the net for Ottawa, while Linus Ullmark made 32 saves. Sanderson added an assist, racking up a two-point night.- John Tavares, Matthew Knies, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored for Toronto. Anthony Stolarz stopped 18 shots, with William Nylander contributing two assists.
Series Long-Shots:Only four NHL teams have ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series - the 1942 Leafs, 1975 New York Islanders, 2010 Philadelphia Flyers, and 2014 Los Angeles Kings. But don't count the Senators out just yet!
Rollercoaster Ride:Toronto entered the game on an eight-game winning streak after the regular season. During the extra period, the Leafs managed a four-minute power play after Senators forward Drake Batherson received a double-minor for high-sticking. Despite a scramble and a post hit by their captain Auston Matthews, Ottawa held its ground.
Third-Period Drama:Perron broke the 2-2 tie at 7:32, capitalizing on a beautiful feed from Artem Zub during a strong offensive zone push. Toronto retaliated when Ekman-Larsson buried his second goal with 5:29 remaining in regulation, off a cross-ice pass from Nylander.
Ottawa's Revival:The Senators returned to the playoffs following a lengthy rebuild and kicked off the scoring on a power play thanks to Max Domi's roughing penalty. Stutzle took advantage, blasting a one-timer past Stolarz' glove to give Ottawa the early lead.
Tension on the Ice:Before the game, the NHL fined Senators forward Nick Cousins over US$2,000 and the team $25,000 for aiming pucks toward Stolarz in warm-ups before Game 3. Cousins was unavailable for comment following Saturday's skate.
Leafs Anxious:The Leafs, eager for the ice, had Stolarz perform some towel-mopping duties in his crease before their morning skate.
Stay tuned for Game 5 in Toronto. The underdog Senators aren't going down without a fight, and it'll be a thrilling spectacle to witness!
[Source: The Canadian Press][References: 1 - History of 3-1 comebacks in NHL playoff history]
In Game 5, Ottawa aims to continue their resurgence, having clinched their first post-season victory since the 2017 Eastern Conference final run in a thrilling overtime win against Toronto. Despite being down 3-1 in the series, the Senators have proven to be tough opponents, as they look to overcome history by becoming the fifth NHL team to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series. John Tavares, Matthew Knies, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson have scored for Toronto, while Linus Ullmark made 32 saves. In the upcoming game, are the Leafs feeling the pressure as they perform towel-mopping duties before their morning skate, or will they remain the pulse of the National Hockey League playoffs?
