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The Toronto Maple Leafs lead over the Ottawa Senators after the first period in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series.
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A fast-paced first period is in the books. Ottawa's Nick Jensen leads all players in ice time with 8:24. Jake McCabe paced the Leafs at 7:33.
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P1 0:00 – Maple Leafs 2, Senators 1
Through one period, the Toronto Maple Leafs by one over the Ottawa Senators. Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Mitch Marner scored for Toronto while Drake Batherson made it a one-goal game for Ottawa.
Fun start to this series.
I was just saying how I felt the Sens were lacking in high-danger opportunities and then Drake Batherson scores. Sens have their first of the series.
P1 3:42 – Maple Leafs 2, Senators 1
Brandon Carlo can't clear the puck out of the zone. Instead, he turns the puck over.
Cozens shoots the puck on net, but Anthony Stolarz can't control the puck. He gives up a rebound to Drake Batherson, who buries the puck behind the net.
Ottawa cuts the deficit in half.
That’s a huge goal for Mitch Marner. The Leafs need him to score more in these playoffs than he has in the past.
Also of note: The Leafs have beaten Linus Ullmark twice on their first four shots.
P1 7:42 – Maple Leafs 2, Senators 0
Mitch Marner was the Maple Leafs' leading scorer in the regular season. He's on the score sheet in Game 1.
Auston Matthews with the quick outlet pass to Marner, who takes advantage of the Senators defensemen. Marner beats Linus Ullmark top shelf to give Toronto a 2-0 lead.
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Fans are chanting 'Brady sucks!' at Scotiabank Arena.
The Leafs fourth line has been excellent so far, setting up the first goal and then nearly scoring again at the midway point of the first period.
We wondered if Toronto would get enough scoring down the lineup in the playoffs. This is an encouraging start.
P1 9:24 – Maple Leafs 1, Senators 0
Calle Jarnkrok nearly puts in Toronto's second goal of the night from the fourth line.
HOW did that puck not go in?
P1 12:51 – Maple Leafs 1, Senators 0
Oliver Ekman-Larsson just set the land speed record for his turnaround from a possibility to play Game 1 to Game 1 hero. The defenseman opens the scoring with a wrist shot to give Toronto a 1-0 lead.
P1 13:20 – Senators 0, Maple Leafs 0
Great early save from Anthony Stolarz on the shot from the point by Artem Zub. Rebound control is going to be crucial, especially with Brady Tkachuk parked in front of the net.
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If you had Tim Stützle throwing the first big hit in this series on your bingo card, you're a winner. He also has the first official shot on goal of this series.
P1 13:51 – Senators 0, Maple Leafs 0
At the first TV timeout, the Senators and Maple Leafs remain deadlocked 0-0. Shots are 3-1 in favor of Ottawa but no team has generated a Grade-A scoring chance yet.
P1 15:19 – Senators 0, Maple Leafs 0
Auston Matthews records the first shot for Toronto in Game 1. It's a wrist shot through traffic but Senators goalie Linus Ullmark makes the save.
Still 0-0 in the first period.
P1 16:58 – Senators 0, Maple Leafs
Senators forward Tim Stützle fires a wrist shot to the net. Easily saved by Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz.
Some big hits early on in Game 1, in particular Nick Robertson, which drew some cheers.
The Athletic
The view from our Athletic perch here in the press box. Definitely a sea of blue and white. And louder than usual.
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Imagn Images
P1 20:00 – Senators 0, Maple Leafs 0
We're underway with the first period of Game 1 between the Maple Leafs and Senators.
During the Canadian national anthem, the camera on the Sportsnet broadcast showed Keith Tkachuk, the father of Senators forward Brady Tkachuk, in the crowd.
He's ready to watch his son play in the Battle of Ontario.
The gamesmanship starts early: Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot was the last player on the ice during warmups and tried to fire a puck into the Maple Leafs empty net before leaving.
