In a game that delivered plenty of excitement from the get-go, the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs clashed in a contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Just a minute and a half into the action, a scrum unfolded with most players getting involved, setting the tone for an intense matchup. Shane Pinto and Max Domi seemed ready to throw down, but the referees stepped in, handing them both roughing minors.
Early on, the Leafs dominated possession, pinning the Senators in their own zone for a solid six minutes. Despite the pressure, Toronto couldn't capitalize on their territorial advantage.
It was Ottawa's Dennis Gilbert who eventually took a penalty for smothering the puck, giving the Leafs a power play opportunity. However, it was short-lived as Oliver Ekman-Larsson's boarding penalty on Claude Giroux led to some four-on-four play.
Neither team managed to break through during this stretch, although Toronto had their best chance of the period.
The Senators found their stride when Matias Maccelli was penalized for tripping Lars Eller, granting Ottawa their first full power play. The Sens displayed solid control, but without Jake Sanderson, they struggled to look threatening.
Enter Tim Stützle, who doesn't need much to make an impact, firing a shot under the glove of Joseph Woll to put Ottawa up 1-0. The Senators carried this momentum, dominating the latter part of the period and outshooting the Leafs significantly.
The second period saw both teams trading chances without much danger. Philippe Myers lost a skate blade, adding a touch of chaos.
Ottawa thought they had doubled their lead, but a goal was waved off for goaltender interference, sending Stützle to the box. Despite some shaky moments on the penalty kill, Ullmark stood tall to keep the Leafs at bay.
Another disallowed goal followed shortly after, as Ridly Greig's high stick negated a potential score. But persistence paid off when Giroux finally beat Woll cleanly with a backhander, extending the lead to 2-0. Warren Foegele added another, marking his fourth goal in a Senators jersey.
Toronto responded through John Tavares, who cut the deficit to two. A late hooking call on Michael Amadio gave the Leafs a power play heading into the third, setting the stage for a tense finish.
The Leafs used their power play to build momentum, and Easton Cowan capitalized on a turnover to bring them within one. But Ottawa wasn't done. They regained control, with Michael Amadio tucking in a rebound and Ridly Greig showcasing his skills with a slick deke on a three-on-two, sealing the game at 5-2.
A concerning moment occurred when Dennis Gilbert was driven into the boards by Ekman-Larsson, leaving the game with an injury. Coach Travis Green later confirmed Gilbert would miss some time, though with a comfortable lead, Ottawa didn't need to rush him back.
The game concluded with another Senators power play, which failed to produce further goals despite a solid chance from Brady.
Game Notes:
Ottawa's dominance after Cowan's goal was striking, limiting the Leafs to just two blocked shots in the final 15 minutes. The Senators have been outshooting opponents consistently, a trend that continued tonight.
Dennis Gilbert was the only Senator without a shot on goal, while Claude Giroux led with eight. With Detroit's loss to Boston, Ottawa now holds their playoff destiny in their own hands.