In a thrilling opener of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Toronto Maple Leafs showcased their dominance over the Ottawa Senators, winning 6-2 in Game 1 of the Battle of Ontario on Sunday, April 20, 2025. The victory not only marked the Leafs' first playoff game of the season but also the Senators' return to the postseason after an eight-year absence.
Toronto's Anthony Stolarz, making his playoff debut, turned in a stellar performance, stopping 31 of 33 shots. The 31-year-old goaltender was instrumental in securing the win, despite facing significant physicality throughout the match. "It kind of hops over your stick, right? That’s part of being a goalie, it’s short-term memory, and you gotta worry about that next shot," Stolarz remarked about the first goal he allowed, which came from Drake Batherson, cutting Toronto's lead to 2-1.
The game began with the Leafs establishing a quick lead, with Oliver Ekman-Larsson scoring just 7:09 into the first period. Marner, who had a goal and two assists, followed up with another goal at 12:18, putting Toronto up 2-0. The Senators, however, fought back, with Batherson scoring his first career playoff goal at 16:18 of the first, demonstrating their resilience.
Despite the setback, the Leafs maintained their pressure. John Tavares extended their lead to 3-1 early in the second period with a power-play goal at 4:07. The Senators found themselves in a tough spot when they took three penalties in a short span, allowing Toronto to capitalize. William Nylander scored just three seconds into a 5-on-3 advantage at 7:19, pushing the score to 4-1.
Ridly Greig managed to pull the Senators back within two goals at 4:00 of the third period, but Morgan Rielly quickly restored the three-goal cushion just 45 seconds later. Matthew Knies capped off the scoring for Toronto with another power-play goal at 13:13, sealing the 6-2 victory.
Linus Ullmark, the Senators' goaltender, had a challenging night, allowing six goals on just 24 shots, resulting in a save percentage of .750. "It's just one game," Ullmark said, emphasizing the need to move forward. "You can lose 1-0, and it's still going to be a loss. You have to have the mind of a goldfish and go out there and play Game 2 with a little bit of a chip on your shoulder."
Ottawa's head coach, Travis Green, acknowledged the need for his team to improve, particularly in terms of discipline. "All year, we’ve talked about committing to the process, but we get a day to talk about the game. We know we’ve got to reset quickly," he stated. The Senators' ability to bounce back will be crucial as they prepare for Game 2, which is set for Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Scotiabank Arena.
As the first playoff Battle of Ontario in 21 years, the stakes were high, and the physicality was evident from the start. Both teams were eager to set the tone for the series, with the Leafs showcasing their offensive firepower while the Senators struggled to contain it. The core of Ottawa’s roster, including Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle, will need to step up in the upcoming games to challenge Toronto's formidable lineup.
With the Maple Leafs taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, the pressure is now on the Senators to regroup and find a way to compete against a team that has proven to be a tough opponent. As fans eagerly await the next installment of this heated rivalry, one thing is clear: the Battle of Ontario is back, and it's set to be an exhilarating series.
