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The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators are underway in Game 1 of their first round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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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.
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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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P1 20:00 – Senators 0, Maple Leafs 0
We're underway with the first period of Game 1 between the Maple Leafs and Senators.
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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.
The Maple Leafs and Senators players step onto the ice at Scotiabank Arena to Metallica's Enter Sandman. Fans are on their feet waving the white towels.
It's almost time for puck drop. Game 1 Battle of Ontario is moments away.
The Ottawa Senators are starting Tkachuk-Stützle-Giroux/Sanderson-Zub.
The Maple Leafs counter with Knies-Matthews-Marner/McCabe-Tanev.
The official lineups are in. No surprises from either team.
There's a vast difference in cumulative NHL experience among the defensemen dressed for each side.
Maple Leafs:
Regular season: 4,358 games
Playoffs: 263 games
Senators:
Regular season: 1,828 games
Playoffs: 27 games
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Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews spoke pregame about what he and his team hope to accomplish in the first ten minutes of Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators.
"Keep things simple," Matthews said to Sportsnet. "Forecheck, play a structure game in the first 10 [minutes].”
We'll see if this happens when the puck drops.
Below is the projected Game 1 Toronto Maple Leafs lineup:
Forwards:
Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner
Max Domi — John Tavares — William Nylander
Bobby McMann — Pontus Holmberg — Nick Robertson
Steven Lorentz — Scott Laughton — Calle Järnkrok
Defensemen:
Jake McCabe — Chris Tanev
Morgan Rielly — Brandon Carlo
Simon Benoit — Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Goaltender:
Anthony Stolarz
GO FURTHER
Maple Leafs Game 1 lineup vs. Senators: Who’s in, who’s out, who’s playing where
By Joshua Kloke and Julian McKenzie
Steven Lorentz is itching to be part of history.
The Maple Leafs forward grew up a Leafs fan and the Battle of Ontario playoff matchups were pivotal moments in his fandom: Four physical and thrilling series in five seasons between the Leafs and their provincial rivals, the Ottawa Senators.
“I was there in my Leafs pyjamas,” Lorentz said with a grin. “I remember going nuts in my house.”
And now, with the postseason edition of the Battle of Ontario back for the first time since 2004, Lorentz hopes to write his own chapter in the rivalry.
“Bring it on,” he said. “There’s a lot of passion in both organizations. I grew up watching this series, and to be part of it, it’s super special.”
What made those four playoff series between 1999 and 2004 so special? And why are they being used as fuel for many fans heading into the 2025 playoffs?
In 2020, The Athletic compiled an oral history of the Battle of Ontario. We’ve updated the story with fresh insight on some of the most memorable moments from those four series.
Read more below.
GO FURTHER
The Battle of Ontario — as told by the Maple Leafs and Senators who’ve lived it
In his pregame interview with Sportsnet in Canada, Ottawa Senators coach Travis Green praised his team for the season they had. He said they are happy to be a playoff team but want more.
"We have a lot of belief in our team," Green said. "We want to play with an aggressive mindset."
Not long now to see if Ottawa's physical play can translate in a victory.
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Toronto Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube spoke in his pregame news conference this morning ahead of Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators. He was complimentary of the Senators, who qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
When asked about Ottawa players having a lack of playoff experience compared to Toronto, Berube said it's not a huge deal.
"They've earned every right to be in the playoffs," Berube said. "We just got to be ready for what's going to come from them. That team's going to come hard. They are going to push. They have a lot of good players over there."
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Maple Leafs and Senators players make their way to the ice at Scotiabank Arena for pregame warmups. The Leafs are wearing their blue and white home jerseys.
The Sens are wearing their traditional white away uniforms.
As the pregame show for Maple Leafs-Senators begins on the broadcast, the camera pans to Maple Leaf Square. It's the tailgate party outside Scotiabank Arena, home of the Maple Leafs.
Thirty minutes until the puck drop and it's already filled with fans, waving their towels and yelling "Go Leafs Go!" Expect it to get louder and fuller throughout the series.
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Brady Tkachuk entered the league in 2018 when the Ottawa Senators drafted him with the No. 4 pick. Almost seven years since draft night, Tkachuk is playing in his first playoff game.
He spoke during his pregame availability about playing mini sticks as a kid, dreaming of scoring the game-winning goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Now, that dream could become a reality.
"It's a long time coming," Tkachuk said. "To finally be here, it's surreal."
Watch the full clip below.
