NHL
Advertisement
live
Updated 57s ago
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators are underway with Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.
Subscribe to The Athletic on an exclusive offer here.
P1 5:28 – Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
Five minutes left in the first period. Still a 0-0 game.
Mitch Marner is showing defensive prowess in his own zone, checking Shane Pinto along the boards, which results in a turnover.
The Leafs defensive play continues to shine.
Advertisement
P1 7:24 – Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
It's Linus Ullmark's turn to make a big save. John Tavares in the high slot fires a wrist shot that Ullmark gobbles up.
Still a 0-0 game. Both goalies playing well so far.
Tim Stützle just had one of the best looks the Senators have created all series, coming off the bench and taking a Drake Batherson pass while skating into the slot. However, Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz came out to the top of his crease to swallow up the Stützle shot. Stolarz is looming large over this series so far.
P1 8:50 – Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
The best chance of the game belongs to Tim Stützle. He comes through the slot and fires a wrist shot that's denied by Anthony Stolarz.
The Maple Leafs goalie is standing tall. It's still a 0-0 game.
P1 10:31 – Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
Dylan Cozens fires a wrist shot that's stopped by Anthony Stolarz. It's 0-0 at the first TV timeout of the game.
Take a breather, hockey fans. A fun start to Game 3 with end-to-end action.
P1 13:02 – Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
John Tavares steps back onto the ice. Toronto successfully kills the Ottawa powerplay.
Not many Grade A chances for the Senators on that powerplay opportunity.
Advertisement
P1 14:11 – Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
Mitch Marner's effective penalty killing is on display again. He deflects a Brady Tkachuk pass out of the zone, showcasing his active stick.
P1 15:04 – Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
Brady Tkachuk draws the penalty on four-on-four, courtesy of John Tavares.
It's now four-on-three for 43 seconds. Big opportunity for Ottawa.
P1 16:21 – Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
Nick Cousins with a backhand shot that's stopped by Anthony Stolarz. Brandon Carlo and David Perron both get penalties.
Four-on-four upcoming for two minutes. Get ready for some open hockey.
P1 17:15 – Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
Pontus Holmberg with an early scoring chance for Toronto. Linus Ullmark denies Holmberg, leading to some cheers from the crowd.
P1 18:00 – Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
Max Pacioretty just had his first shift of the playoffs. He slotted into the lineup tonight for Nick Robertson.
Pacioretty checked Fabian Zetterlund into the boards in Ottawa's zone. Good start.
Advertisement
P1 19:08 – Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
Brady Tkachuk gets the first shot of the game. It's an easy save from Anthony Stolarz.
Tkachuk and Jake McCabe pushed and shoved after the whistle. Game on!
P1 20:00 – Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
We're underway from the Canadian Tire Centre with Game 3.
It's time for the Canadian national anthem. And then puck drop.
We're moments away from Game 3.
Get excited hockey fans.
If you were wondering about the atmosphere tonight, Senators fans are certainly in the majority. They’ve drowned out Maple Leafs in droves. Former goaltender Craig Anderson rang the ceremonial bell before puck drop. The famed ‘Danger Flutes’ game intro even reappeared during the Sens’ game intro.
A home game 2,893 days in the making. That’s the last time the Senators hosted a playoff game eight years ago. It’s a party at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Getty Images
The official lineups are in and there are no surprises from either team. The Leafs are starting the Knies-Matthews-Marner line and the Sens are using last line change to counter with their shutdown unit: Greig-Pinto-Amadio.
Advertisement
It's very early, but judging from a walk outside Canadian Tire Centre and throughout the arena concourse, the prevailing colour here is red, not blue. For all the discussion about a possible invasion of Leafs fans, Senators fans seem to have shown up in spades. Of course, things could change — the arena is a drive from downtown Ottawa and fans could be arriving late — but as it stands, Senators fans heavily outnumber those in blue and white.
The Maple Leafs have a 34-48 record in Game 3’s in franchise best-of-seven series. In road Game 3's, the Leafs are 12-20.
Last year against the Boston Bruins, the Leafs lost in Game 3 4-2. But in 2023, the Leafs won in OT on the road against the Tampa Bay Lightning, en route to winning their first playoff series in 19 years.
