TORONTO – Mitch Marner and his Maple Leafs have by no means had offensive points within the common season.
It’s been a special matter totally when the calender flips to spring.
Toronto entered Sunday having put up two targets or much less in 13 of its earlier 14 playoff video games. Final 12 months’s collection in opposition to the Boston Bruins noticed the membership join on simply one in all 21 energy performs in a seven-game defeat.
For no less than one evening, the dam burst for a star-studded roster with designs on lastly making a deep run.
Marner had a aim and two assists because the Leafs dumped the Ottawa Senators 6-2 to take Recreation 1 of their opening-round collection — the primary playoff Battle of Ontario in additional than twenty years.
“We consider wins,” Marner stated of filling Linus Ullmark’s web. “We’ve obtained to stay up for the following one.”
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William Nylander and John Tavares, with a aim and an help every, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Morgan Rielly and Matthew Knies additionally scored for Toronto. Anthony Stolarz made 31 saves.
Auston Matthews added two assists on a bodily evening that noticed the younger Senators pay a heavy worth for an undisciplined strategy because the Leafs related for 3 man-advantage targets within the playoffs for the primary time since 1999.
“It was intense,” stated Tavares, who took a cross-check to the face from Ottawa ahead Ridly Greig that was diminished from a serious penalty to a minor upon assessment. “It’s referred to as the Battle of Ontario for a purpose. Arduous-fought recreation. However we all know we nonetheless is usually a lot higher.”
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“Depth ramps up,” stated Toronto head coach Craig Berube, the person tasked with getting this group over its painful playoff hump. “Simply gotta go play.”
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Greig and Drake Batherson had the targets for Ottawa.
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“Need to refocus,” stated Ullmark after stopping 18-of-24 photographs. “It’s only one recreation. That’s the fantastic thing about it.”
The very best-of-seven matchup continues Tuesday at Scotiabank Area earlier than shifting to the nation’s capital.
The collection opener marked precisely 21 years for the reason that groups final met within the playoffs when Toronto bested Ottawa 4-1 in Recreation 7 on April 20, 2004.
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The groups went in reverse instructions after that, with Ottawa having fun with a long term of success, together with a visit to the 2007 Stanley Cup closing, whereas Toronto made the post-season simply as soon as between 2006 and 2016.
The Leafs, who downed the Senators 4 instances within the playoffs within the early 2000s, returned to the NHL’s spring dance in 2017 — the final time the Senators made the post-season — with a younger core led by Matthews, Marner and Nylander.
The Senators’ rebuild, in the meantime, took so much longer than anticipated, however lastly gained traction in 2024-25.
“All 12 months we’ve talked about committing to the method,” Senators head coach Travis Inexperienced stated. “It’s no completely different now.”
Toronto, which has one collection victory in 9 tries within the Matthews-Marner period, opened the scoring at 7:09 of the primary interval when Ekman-Larsson fired the puck previous Ullmark to ignite the rink and ship followers gathered outside in Maple Leaf Sq. right into a frenzy.
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“The ambiance was nice,” Stolarz stated after his first playoff begin. “Had goose bumps once you stepped on the ice and the gang goes nuts. I believe that propelled us.”
Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson cleared a puck off his aim line later within the interval, however Marner took a stretch cross from Matthews moments later and roofed a shot at 12:18 for a 2-0 lead.
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Ottawa obtained on the board 4 minutes later when Batherson potted a rebound.
Stolarz stopped Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, who made his playoff debut in his seventh NHL season, on a breakaway early within the second earlier than the ability play went to work when Tavares scored at 4:07 to make it 3-1.
The Senators obtained in additional penalty hassle and Toronto struck three seconds right into a two-man benefit when Nylander ripped his crew’s fourth aim on 10 photographs at 7:19.
Fabian Zetterlund had an incredible alternative on an Ottawa energy play late within the interval, however Stolarz was there once more to maintain the rating at 4-1 by way of 40 minutes.
“Some key saves at some actual key instances,” Tavares stated. “Speaks to the competitor that he’s.”
Greig obtained the Senators inside two precisely 4 minutes into the third on a delayed penalty, however Rielly made it 5-2 simply 45 seconds afterward a shot that hit a Senators participant.
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Knies rounded out the scoring on one other energy play at 13:13 to place a bow on a formidable opening-night efficiency from the Atlantic Division winners.
The message within the aftermath?
“It’s one recreation,” Berube stated. “It’s going to get tougher.”
NOT BITING
Toronto’s bench boss was requested concerning the officers decreasing Greig’s cross-check on Tavares to a minor within the second interval.
“Not my name,” Berube stated. “The referees and the league will take a look at issues and make the calls they make. We’re not going to give attention to that.”
EARS RINGING
Tkachuk was the goal of quite a few unflattering chants from the well-lubricated, vacation weekend crowd all through Recreation 1.
“I may care much less,” he stated. “I don’t actually give a (expletive) to be trustworthy with you … that’s not going to have an effect on me.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed April 20, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
