The Maple Leafs didn’t spring any last-minute surprises before facing Ottawa, sticking with the same look minutes before puck drop in the Battle of Ontario.
Toronto entered its third game of the season with a chance to keep things rolling, while the Senators were set to open their season on Saturday night. The matchup already had plenty of juice, and the offseason changes on both sides only added to the intrigue.
There were a few reasons to wonder whether the Leafs might tinker. Easton Cowan has been strong early, which made him a possible candidate for a bigger role, but Jim Hiller opted not to shuffle the deck.
The only notable adjustment came in goal, with Sergei Bobrovsky getting the start after a three-day rest. He had sat out the back-to-back, while Anthony Stolarz handled the crease on Wednesday night.
The game also carried a handful of notable subplots. Gavin McKenna was set to get his first taste of the rivalry, and Daniel Alfredsson was facing his old team for the first time since being hired by Toronto this summer.
On Ottawa’s side, Jake Sanderson was worth watching after being listed as a question mark earlier in the buildup. The Senators also had to show how they would respond after losing Tkachuk this season, with a new lineup still finding its rhythm.
McKenna’s first point was another storyline hanging over the night. It would be a milestone whenever it arrives, and Toronto will be hoping he can make an early statement if he wants to put himself in the mix for the Calder.
There was also a milestone on the bench, with Senators coach Travis Green coaching his 500th career game. That gave Ottawa another reason to come out with some extra edge in a rivalry game that already had no shortage of energy.
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The late push only added to the frustration. Toronto had a 6-on-5 power-play opportunity in the final moments, but the sequence never turned into the kind of sustained pressure the Leafs needed, and Hiller pointed to fatigue setting in as the clock wound down. It left the night with the same sour feeling that follows so many close losses: enough chances to change the result, not enough execution when it mattered most. [Read more 🡒]
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Leafs Got An Opening Ottawa Could Not Afford To Give Away
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The Leafs wasted little time taking advantage, scoring twice in a row after Sanderson exited to grab a 2-1 lead. In a game where every shift mattered, Ottawa could not afford to lose one of its top defensemen, and Toronto quickly showed why those kinds of openings rarely stay closed for long. [Read more 🡒]