The Battle of Ontario Rekindled: Leafs Take Early Control Against Senators in 2025 Playoffs
The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs have delivered a long-awaited matchup, as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators clash in a first-round series for the first time since 2004. With two games in the books, Toronto has jumped out to a commanding 2-0 series lead—showcasing both their offensive depth and playoff poise—while Ottawa searches for answers heading back to home ice.
Game 1: Toronto Dominates Early
The series opener at Scotiabank Arena was all Toronto. The Maple Leafs dismantled the Senators with a convincing 6–2 win, driven by standout performances from their star players. Mitch Marner tallied a goal and two assists, while Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares each found the back of the net. Toronto’s forecheck overwhelmed Ottawa, and goaltender Anthony Stolarz stood tall with 31 saves.
Ottawa managed to respond with goals from Drake Batherson and Ridly Greig, but their defense and goaltending struggled to contain the Leafs’ relentless pace and creativity.
Game 2: Senators Push Back, Leafs Prevail in Overtime
Game 2 was a far tighter affair, as the Senators showed resilience and grit. After falling behind 2–0, Ottawa stormed back with goals from Brady Tkachuk and Adam Gaudette to force overtime. The Senators outshot Toronto 13–3 in the second period and dominated large stretches of play. However, it was Max Domi who played hero for the Leafs, burying the overtime winner just over three minutes into the extra frame, sealing a 3–2 win for Toronto.
Despite the loss, Ottawa’s effort in Game 2 suggested this series is far from over—especially as the teams shift to the nation’s capital for Games 3 and 4.
Key Matchups & Storylines
Goaltending Duel:
Anthony Stolarz has quietly been a stabilizing force for Toronto, stopping 92.5% of shots faced over the first two games. On the other side, Linus Ullmark has had moments of brilliance for the Senators but hasn’t been able to steal a game just yet, posting an .857 save percentage.
Offensive Depth:
Toronto’s ability to roll multiple lines with scoring threats has been a major advantage. From top-line stars like Matthews to bottom-six contributors like Domi, the Leafs are getting goals from everywhere. Ottawa, meanwhile, needs more consistent production outside of Tkachuk and Batherson.
Special Teams Battle:
The Leafs’ power play has clicked at crucial moments, converting three times so far in the series. Ottawa’s penalty kill has struggled, and the team hasn’t capitalized enough on its own man-advantage opportunities.
By the Numbers
| Category | Maple Leafs | Senators |
|---|---|---|
| Goals For | 9 | 4 |
| Power Play Goals | 3 | 1 |
| Save Percentage | .925 | .857 |
| Top Scorer | Mitch Marner (1G, 2A) | Brady Tkachuk (1G) |
What’s Next
With Games 3 and 4 shifting to Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa (April 24 and 26), the Senators will be looking to regroup and leverage their home crowd to claw back into the series. For Toronto, it’s an opportunity to take a stranglehold and potentially sweep a historic rival out of the playoffs.
Whether Ottawa can rally remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—the Battle of Ontario is back, and it’s as intense as ever.
