NHL
Advertisement
live
Updated 15m ago
The Toronto Maple Leafs dominate the Ottawa Senators 6-2 to take Game 1 of their first-round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Toronto opened the scoring in the first period with Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Mitch Marner added another to make it 2-0 for the Maple Leafs.
With Drake Batherson cutting the deficit to one at the first intermission, a close game seemed like a possibility. But the Leafs offensive firepower was too much for the inexperienced Senators. Toronto scored three goals on the power play, which included goals from John Tavares, William Nylander and Matthew Knies.
Anthony Stolarz made 31 saves en route to the Game 1 victory. Game 2 is Tuesday night in Toronto.
Read more below on Toronto's Game 1 win.
GO FURTHER
Leafs rout Senators as Battle of Ontario reignites: 5 takeaways from Game 1
Unquestionably favoured in this best-of-seven against the Senators, the Leafs checked off every box the coaching staff could have asked for in Game 1.
Check.
Check.
Check.
Check.
They also seemed to get under the Senators’ skin as the night wore on. Asked whether his team was undisciplined, Ottawa coach Travis Green acknowledged it took too many infractions while adding a caveat.
“I thought there was a couple calls that they did a good job selling,” he said. “It’s tough on the refs.”
Read more.
GO FURTHER
Maple Leafs open Battle of Ontario with intriguing lack of past playoff woes
Advertisement
The Senators' Ridly Greig was a popular topic of conversation inside the Leafs dressing room between Games 1 and 2. His slide into Anthony Stolarz late in Sunday's series opener got the players' attention, as did his penalized cross-check to John Tavares' head and neck area.
Said Toronto's Matthew Knies on Monday: "It's definitely annoying. I think we're going to play hard on him and not make it easy for him the rest of the way."
GO FURTHER
Senators’ Ridly Greig won’t face suspension for cross-check: Source
John E. Sokolowski / Imagn Images
The biggest question for Anthony Stolarz: Can the Leafs goalie continue to play this well, every second night, during a long run — something he has never really been asked to do at the pro level?
The fact that that is the only uncertainty — and not his ability or his mindset — is an upgrade over the question marks the Leafs have had at the sport’s most important position far too often in the past.
For now, all of the pressure has shifted to Linus Ullmark and the Senators, who need to show they’re not going to be the ones out-goalied this time around.
It’s just one game. But given the season he’s had, Stolarz feels like one of the biggest sure things in this series right now.
And when have we said that before in Toronto?
It’s been a while.
GO FURTHER
In Anthony Stolarz, the Maple Leafs may finally have their advantage in goal
Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube on Anthony Stolarz missing today’s practice: “Just rest. He’s all good.”
The Maple Leafs say it’s just a rest day for Anthony Stolarz.
Anthony Stolarz is not participating in Leafs practice the day after making 31 saves in a Game 1 victory. He is the only regular not taking part.
Advertisement
John E. Sokolowski / Imagn Images
TORONTO — Had you granted the Toronto Maple Leafs the ability to script their own opening scene to the Battle of Ontario, even they may not have come up with a night that soothed this many old wounds.
For one pitch-perfect game, at least, the long-suffering denizens of Leafs Nation were treated to something that almost felt like playoff calm.
The stars peppered the scoresheet. The power play came roaring out of the gates against an undisciplined opponent. The best goaltender stood in the Toronto crease. And the Leafs comfortably won a series opener for just the third time in 10 tries during the Core Four era.
“They played,” coach Craig Berube said after Sunday’s 6-2 win. “They just played.”
Yes, for 60 refreshing minutes, the team that’s basically become a playoff punch line gave its loyal following a reason to believe — not to mention the chance to serenade Brady Tkachuk with chants of “Brady sucks!” while treating shell-shocked goaltender Linus Ullmark to a few derisive rounds of “Ullllllmark!”
This was entirely different than what came before.
GO FURTHER
Maple Leafs open Battle of Ontario with intriguing lack of past playoff woes
Day 2 of the NHL playoffs took place Sunday with three more Game 1s.
In the day’s opening action, the Carolina Hurricanes beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1 to take a 1-0 series lead. Carolina was propelled by Logan Stankoven, who scored two goals. Game 2 is at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C.
Later, of course, the Toronto Maple Leafs took down the Ottawa Senators 6-2. Mitch Marner led the way for the Leafs with a goal and two assists, while John Tavares and William Nylander each had a goal and an assist. Goalie Anthony Stolarz had 31 saves as the Maple Leafs took a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 is at 7:30 p.m. ET Tuesday in Toronto.
In the Sunday nightcap, the Vegas Golden Knights — the pick favored to win Game 1 by all of The Athletic’s experts — toppled the Minnesota Wild. Brett Howen scored twice, while Tomas Hertl scored once and had an assist. Vegas will look to extend its series lead when it hosts Game 2 at 11 p.m. ET Tuesday.
Read our takeaways from the entire day here.
GO FURTHER
NHL playoffs daily: Hurricanes down Devils, Maple Leafs rout Senators, Golden Knights outlast Wild
Mark Blinch / NHLI via Getty Images
TORONTO — Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig will not face any supplemental discipline after delivering a high cross-check to John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game 1 of the Battle of Ontario, according to a source familiar with the decision.
Sunday’s game produced 52 minutes in penalties, but did not include any infractions the NHL’s department of player safety believed rose to the level of a fine or suspension.
Greig was initially assessed a five-minute cross-checking major penalty after getting his stick up and striking Tavares in the neck or head area as the Leafs player finished a hit on him early in the second period. Following a video review, referees Brian Pochmara and Garret Rank reduced Greig’s penalty to a two-minute cross-checking minor.
Read more.
GO FURTHER
Senators’ Ridly Greig won’t face suspension for cross-check: Source
Game 2 of the Maple Leafs and Senators series is Tuesday night from Toronto. Puck drop is half an hour later than Game 1, with action beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT.
Both the Maple Leafs and Senators will participate in an off-day practice. Select players and coaches from both teams will speak to the media.
Stay tuned for quotes and updates.
Advertisement
With the Leafs leading 2-1 after the first period, the Senators came out flying in the second. It was Anthony Stolarz's critical saves preventing goals from Brady Tkachuk and Shane Pinto that kept the Leafs in front. Before the onslaught of Toronto offense happened.
Watch Stolarz shut down the Senators captain on the breakaway below.
One of the questions entering Game 1 was how the Toronto special teams would play. It's just one game but the powerplay and penalty kill were stellar in Game 1.
Toronto scored three powerplay goals, courtesy of John Tavares, William Nylander and Matthew Knies. The Maple Leafs were 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
Imagn Images
It's been 23 years since Toronto went up 2-0 in a playoff series. That occurred in the first round in 2002 against the New York Islanders.
The Islanders battled back to force a Game 7. The Leafs took Game 7 4-2 en route to the Eastern Conference final.
It was nice to see Mitch Marner have a stellar Game 1 of the playoffs. He was the Maple Leafs' leading scorer with 102 points in 2024-25, the first time he reached 100 points in a season.
Watch below Marner's epic breakaway goal to put the Leafs up 2-0.
Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs are sitting in a good spot. Throughout NHL history, the team that wins Game 1 wins the series 70.2 percent of the time. That number jumps up to 88.2 percent with a Game 2 victory.
Tuesday's Game 2 is going to be massive.
Advertisement
Imagn Images
If the Toronto Maple Leafs go on a deep playoff run, this will be a very fun trivia question. Who scored the first goal in Toronto's playoff campaign?
Answer: Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Watch the goal below from the Leafs defenseman.
Imagn Images
By Joshua Kloke and Julian McKenzie
A generation after it began, the Battle of Ontario reignited in Game 1 between the Maple Leafs and Senators. And just as it went back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Leafs got the better of the Senators.
The Leafs’ dominant 6-2 win marked just the third time this Leafs core has won a series opener in 10 tries. And that’s fitting: this team looked quite different from recent iterations come playoff time. They stifled the Senators, whose lack of playoff experience showed up in taking needless penalties.
Of course, there’s plenty of hockey left in this matchup. But if Game 1 is any indication, this has the potential to be a short one.
Imagn Images
Good morning hockey fans! Yes, the Toronto Maple Leafs are up 1-0 in their first-round series against the Ottawa Senators.
It took 21 years but safe to say the Battle of Ontario is reignited.
Stay tuned for news, updates and analysis throughout the off day.
