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The Toronto Maple Leafs advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, beating the Ottawa Senators in six games. The Leafs won Game 6 4-2 in a thrilling game.
Toronto got out to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Auston Matthews and William Nylander. But Ottawa rallied with two goals to tie from Brady Tkachuk and David Perron in the third period.
With the game tied 2-2, Max Pacioretty scored the go-ahead goal, sealing the series victory for Toronto.
The Leafs now face the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in the second round.
The Toronto Maple Leafs face the Florida Panthers in the second round. They met in 2023 in the second round where the Panthers won in five games en route to advancing to the Stanley Cup Final.
A fun series awaits between two Atlantic Division rivals.
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William Nylander scored two goals in the series clinching Game 6 tonight.
Below is how he performed compared to his teammates.
Auston Matthews said there's a ton of belief in the room after winning the series in six games tonight. He leaned on his teammates tonight, especially after blowing the two-goal lead.
"Big game tonight," Matthews said. "We're just moving forward."
The Maple Leafs and Senators begin the handshake line. Auston Matthews and Brady Tkachuk, captains of their respective teams and American teammates, had a long hug and handshake.
What a series.
With Toronto winning in six games, the Maple Leafs are 5-0 in playoff series against the Ottawa Senators.
P3 0:00 – Maple Leafs 4, Senators 2
The Toronto Maple Leafs win Game 6 and defeat the Ottawa Senators in six games. Toronto prevents a Game 7 and is off to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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And that will do it. William Nylander scores an empty netter, making it 4-2 Toronto.
That's two goals for Nylander on his birthday. The Leafs will move on.
William Nylander was an INCH away from scoring an empty net goal to seal this.
Holy. Still a one-goal lead for Toronto.
Can they hold?
Sens fans are shellshocked during this TV timeout. No fanfare as the Senators announce a sellout crowd on the jumbotron compared to what we heard moments ago just before the Leafs got a go-ahead goal from Pacioretty.
That was the first goal for Max Pacioretty since Dec. 20. Massive moment for him and the team.
What a game for Pacioretty, a player many felt might be out of the lineup tonight. Huge goal makes it 3-2.
This third line has finally been good in a game for Leafs.
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P3 5:39 – Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2
Max Pacioretty scores from distance. 3-2 Toronto.
Kudos to the game op crew: They played no music during that TV timeout and allowed the fan noise to carry right through. This place is bouncing.
That's another blown third-period lead for the Toronto Maple Leafs in this series. In Games 2 and 3, Toronto had a third period lead before Ottawa tied the game.
They won those two games in overtime. What happens tonight?
P3 12:40 – Maple Leafs 2, Senators 2
David Perron’s night won’t go understated anymore. He banks the puck off Anthony Stolarz and ties the game just after the Senators’ power play expires. With 7:20 to play, the Sens have tied it
P3 9:37 – Maple Leafs 2, Senators 1
Huge chance for the Senators here: Morgan Rielly takes an interference penalty on Fabian Zetterlund. It's the second PP of the night for Ottawa.
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David Perron’s had a few redirects and play breakups through this contest. It won’t get the same glamour as Brady Tkachuk or Tim Stützle. But the eye test says Perron has shown his worth with the little things tonight.
P3 11:38 – Maple Leafs 2, Senators 1
A whole minute for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the offensive zone. Toronto doesn't score but the third line of Max Domi, Pontus Holmberg and Bobby McMann played well hemming Ottawa in their own zone.
And they also drain the clock.
Tim Stützle had a couple of glorious chances in this game early in the third period, ringing the second one off the post. The crowd responds with a "Timmy! Timmy! Timmy!" chant.