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The Toronto Maple Leafs take Game 3 in overtime 3-2 over the Ottawa Senators. Simon Benoit scored the game winner. It’s Toronto’s second consecutive game won in OT.
After being down 1-0, the Toronto Maple Leafs scored two consecutive goals, courtesy of Knies and Auston Matthews. But Brady Tkachuk got the equalizer in the third period, guiding this game to overtime before Benoit sealed the victory.
Matthews won the draw in overtime setting up the blast from Benoit that found the back of the net to give Toronto the win.
The Leafs take a commanding 3-0 series lead. Toronto can advance to the second round on Saturday night in Game 4.
Read more about Game 3 below.
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Leafs’ Simon Benoit plays OT hero, puts Senators on the brink: Game 3 takeaways
The NHL is investigating the conduct of some members of the Ottawa Senators during warmups before Game 3 of their first-round series with the Toronto Maple Leafs, a league source said Friday morning.
Senators forward Nick Cousins is alleged to have been shooting pucks into the Leafs end of the ice before Thursday’s game and appeared to be targeting goaltender Anthony Stolarz in particular, according to the source.
Other members of the team may have been involved in lobbing pucks across the centre line as well.
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NHL investigating Senators’ Game 3 warmups mischief vs. Leafs: Source
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Simon Benoit has as many playoff overtime goals as Alexander Ovechkin, if you can believe it. Meanwhile, Senators fans of a certain age may have seen this script before. A relatively unknown defenceman scoring an overtime winner to put the Senators on the brink of elimination. Cory Cross did it in 2001 against the Senators. History sort of repeats itself 24 years later.
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Game 4 between the Maple Leafs and Senators is Saturday night from the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. Puck drop is 7 p.m. ET.
The Toronto Maple Leafs now have five power-play goals in three games. A reminder: In last year's playoff series against the Boston Bruins, the Leafs went 1-for-21 in seven games.
The penalty kill has also been effective. In Game 3, Toronto was 3-for-4 on the PK.
If you look at the assist leaders, the "Core Four" Maple Leafs forwards represent the top four spots. Mitch Marner leads the way with five, with Auston Matthews in second (four), William Nylander in third (three) and John Tavares fourth (two).
Morgan Rielly, Simon Benoit, Calle Jarnkrok, Scott Laughton, Nick Robertson and Bobby McMann all have one assist.
There are three players that have two goals for the Maple Leafs in the playoffs: John Tavares, Morgan Rielly and Matthew Knies. Knies got the Leafs on the board in Game 3 with a power-play goal.
Six players have one goal, including Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Game 3 OT winner Simon Benoit.
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The "Core Four" have combined for 19 points through three games. Impressive for a group of forwards that struggled in previous playoffs.
The Toronto Maple Leafs' last series win over the Ottawa Senators was in 2004. The Maple Leafs defeated the Senators in seven games. After Ottawa forced a Game 7 with Mike Fisher's double-overtime goal in Game 6, Toronto slaughtered the Senators 4-1 to win the series.
21 years later, the Maple Leafs have a chance to knock out the Senators again.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs' record against the Ottawa Senators in the playoffs continues to grow. Toronto is 19-8 in 27 career playoff games against Ottawa.
The Maple Leafs are outscoring the Senators 69-48 in those 27 playoff games. Dominance.
With their Game 3 win, the Toronto Maple Leafs took a 3-0 series lead in a best-of-seven series for the second time in the NHL's expansion era (since 1967-68).
The first time was the 2001 Conference Quarterfinals against the Ottawa Senators.
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Anthony Stolarz made 18 saves on 20 shots in Game 3. After the game, he admitted that he'd like to have the goal he let in from Brady Tkachuk back.
It's not surprising the Maple Leafs goaltender was pumped to see Simon Benoit score the overtime winner. Watch below.
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The energy from Maple Leaf Square could be felt in Toronto, across southern Ontario, all the way to Ottawa.
Watch below as the Leafs fans in downtown Toronto celebrate Simon Benoit's thrilling overtime winner.
Auston Matthews wins the draw. Simon Benoit winds up.
Boom. The puck finds the back of the net, beating Linus Ullmark. The Maple Leafs win Game 3 in overtime to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Watch below to relive the heroics.
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By Joshua Kloke and Julian McKenzie
The latest Battle of Ontario is in a familiar spot, with the Ottawa Senators teetering on the brink of elimination.
In the first playoff game in Ottawa since 2017, a raucous crowd couldn’t push the Senators to their first win of the series. Instead, the Maple Leafs kept their head above water through a testy first two periods and then in overtime, when Simon Benoit emerged as the unlikely hero with a slap shot from the point.
Benoit‘s goal gave the Leafs their second consecutive 3-2 overtime win and a 3-0 series lead.
The Leafs did as they’ve done all series, keeping the Senators to the outside. And they got contributions they needed from their best players, which made the difference.
The Senators faithful deserve full marks for showing up and getting loud amid fears the Canadian Tire Centre would be taken over by Leafs fans. Yet with the results in the series now being as one-sided as they are, it certainly feels like those same Senators fans might get just one more home game this series.
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Good morning hockey fans!
Struggle to sleep after that wild Game 3? I know I sure did. Another playoff game ends in overtime with the Toronto Maple Leafs on the winning side.
Follow our live coverage throughout the day regarding news, updates and analysis during this off day on the eve of Game 4.
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Simon Benoit is the latest Maple Leaf to score a playoff OT winner. Below is the list of Maple Leafs since 2017 who scored OT winners in the playoffs:
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Look away, Maple Leafs fans. Yes, there have been examples of NHL teams to come back from 3-0 down in a series. The Edmonton Oilers nearly did it last year in the Stanley Cup Final before losing in Game 7 to the Florida Panthers.
Below are the teams that the Ottawa Senators are trying to join who completed the 3-0 deficit comeback:
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Below are the top five total ice time leaders for the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 3:
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