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The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators are in the second period in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series.
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The Max Domi second-line experiment lasted only half of Game 1: Craig Berube has lifted him from the line and replaced him with Pontus Holmberg.
Domi moves back to centre the third line.
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P2 6:00 – Maple Leafs 4, Senators 1
Anthony Stolarz does it again. He gets the stick save on Fabian Zetterlund's wrist shot to keep this a three-goal lead for Toronto.
The Maple Leafs kill off the Senators powerplay. They are 2-for-2 on the PP and 1-for-1 on the PK.
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P2 7:18 – Maple Leafs 4, Senators 1
William Nylander commits a hooking penalty on Dylan Cozens. A huge powerplay for the Senators here to give them a spark.
P2 7:23 – Maple Leafs 4, Senators 1
Almost seven minutes left in the second period and the Leafs cling to a three-goal lead. I can't help but think back to earlier in the period when it was 2-1 Toronto.
Anthony Stolarz made two critical saves: one on Brady Tkachuk on the breakaway and the other from Shane Pinto in the high slot. If Ottawa scores on either of those chances, it's a tie game.
Instead, the Leafs netminder makes two huge saves and Toronto scores twice on the powerplay to lead by three.
P2 8:28 – Maple Leafs 4, Senators 1
Drake Batherson, who is the lone goalscorer for Ottawa tonight, fires a wrist shot off the post. It's still 4-1 Toronto, but Ottawa is trying to generate some offense.
"Ullmark" chants rain down from Maple Leafs fans at Scotiabank Arena. And a Bronx cheer after his recent save.
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That’s two power-play goals for the Leafs in Game 1. They scored one total in seven games against the Bruins last spring.
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P2 12:41 – Maple Leafs 4, Senators 1
Three seconds as the 5-on-3 powerplay begins, William Nylander beats Linus Ullmark to extend Toronto's lead. Toronto winning faceoffs on the powerplay is massive.
The Maple Leafs lead by three in Game 1. And now have 1:55 left on the powerplay.
Adam Gaudette cross checks Auston Matthews, giving the Toronto Maple Leafs a 5-on-3 powerplay.
Critical moment in this game as Toronto takes a timeout. 44 seconds of a 5-on-3 powerplay.
Ridly Greig's cross-checking major has been reduced to a two-minute minor after review by the referees.
Leafs to the powerplay.
Took just nine seconds for the Leafs PP to strike. They've been hot for months and it shows.
3-1 Leafs.
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P2 15:53 – Maple Leafs 3, Senators 1
That didn't take long. Toronto wins the faceoff and it's John Tavares who buries the powerplay goal.
The Maple Leafs struggled in the playoffs last year on the powerplay. They were 1-for-21 against Boston in last year's first-round series.
Huge start for the Toronto special teams.
P2 16:02 – Maple Leafs 2, Senators 1
Tim Stützle with a boarding penalty, checking Chris Tanev. The Leafs have their first powerplay of the playoffs.
P2 16:18 – Maple Leafs 2, Senators 1
Welcome to the playoffs, Anthony Stolarz. Right after denying Brady Tkachuk with a breakaway, he stops Shane Pinto with a point blank chance to tie the game.
Stolarz's stellar end-of-season performance is continuing in Game 1 for Toronto.
P2 18:50 – Maple Leafs 2, Senators 1
Brady Tkachuk had a breakaway chance but Anthony Stolarz denies him with the pad save.
Huge save for the Maple Leafs goalie to open the second period.
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P2 20:00 – Maple Leafs 2, Senators 1
We're underway with the second period from Scotiabank Arena.
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One more commercial break and it's time for the second period from Scotiabank Arena. It will be fascinating to see if the Maple Leafs can keep up their energetic play throughout the lineup.
Ottawa already has two defensive mistakes leading to goals. Also, there's no been power plays in this game so far.
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The Senators started that period with structure and held their own physically. But those two goals hurt, especially since they came off defensive miscues. That needs to be better.
But that Drake Batherson goal will help. Also helps that they've stayed out of the box.
