It’s Game Day! The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators continue their first-round series tonight with Game 5 of the Battle of Ontario. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. EST. The Maple Leafs come into Game 5 after dropping their first game of the series. After taking a 3-0 stranglehold against the Senators, they were hoping to close it out in Game 4. Unfortunately, a long-distance shot from Jake Sanderson beat Anthony Stolarz, sending the series back to Toronto for another chance to wrap it up.
For the Maple Leafs, they played much better than in previous games, but still had to play catch-up at times. They fell behind by two early, managed to battle back, then fell behind again before tying it in the third on a shot from Oliver Ekman-Larsson. In overtime, the Maple Leafs carried most of the play, including a 4-minute power play early on, but failed to convert. After the penalty expired, they had several more chances, but it was a seeing-eye shot from Sanderson that beat Stolarz and ended the game.
The Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies were eliminated from playoff contention this weekend. As a result, they have called up their Black Aces for the playoffs. The call-ups include forwards Alex Steeves, Jacob Quillan, Nicholas Abruzzese, Reese Johnson, Alex Nylander, Roni Hirvonen, defencemen Matt Benning, Cade Webber, Topi Niemelä, William Villeneuve, Mikko Kokkonen, Marshall Rifai, and goalies Matt Murray and Dennis Hildeby. These players aren’t expected to play but will be around the team during practices and team events for the entirety of the playoffs.
As for the series, the Maple Leafs hold a 3-1 record against the Senators. Their top five scorers in the playoffs thus far are Mitch Marner with 1 goal and 6 assists for 7 points, William Nylander with 1 goal and 5 assists for 6 points, Auston Matthews with 1 goal and 5 assists for 6 points, John Tavares with 3 goals and 2 assists for 4 points, and Matthew Knies with 3 goals and no assists for 3 points. In goal, Anthony Stolarz has a record of 3-1 with a 2.29 goals against average (GAA) and a .902 save percentage.
On the other hand, the Ottawa Senators, with a series record of 1-3, have seen Brady Tkachuk lead their scoring with 2 goals and 1 assist for 3 points, followed by Claude Giroux with 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points, Jake Sanderson with 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points, David Perron with 1 goal and 1 assist for 2 points, and Drake Batherson with 1 goal and 1 assist for 2 points. In net, Linus Ullmark has struggled, posting a record of 1-3 with a 3.44 GAA and an .848 save percentage.
As the teams prepare for Game 5, the projected lineups indicate a fierce battle ahead. The Maple Leafs are expected to field a lineup featuring Matthew Knies, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Pontus Holmberg, John Tavares, William Nylander, Calle Jarnkrok, Scott Laughton, Steven Lorentz, Max Pacioretty, Max Domi, and Bobby McMann. The defense will consist of Jake McCabe, Chris Tanev, Morgan Rielly, Brandon Carlo, Simon Benoit, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, with Stolarz and Joseph Woll in goal. Scratched players include David Kampf, Nick Robertson, Dakota Mermis, Philippe Myers, and Artur Akhtyamov.
For the Senators, the expected lineup features Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Claude Giroux, Fabian Zetterlund, Dylan Cozens, Drake Batherson, Ridly Greig, Shane Pinto, Michael Amadio, David Perron, Adam Gaudette, and Nick Cousins. Their defense will be manned by Jake Sanderson, Artem Zub, Thomas Chabot, Nick Jensen, Tyler Kleven, and Nikolas Matinpalo, with Ullmark and Anton Forsberg in goal. Scratched players for Ottawa include Dennis Gilbert, Travis Hamonic, and Matthew Highmore.
In terms of predictions, the Maple Leafs are looking to silence the haters and critics who believe they blew their chance to close out the series after just one loss. This win means more than just advancing—it’s about proving that this team is different. The author predicts the Maple Leafs will finish the job tonight at home with a 4-1 win.
As the battle unfolds, fans can expect intense matchups on the ice. The Senators' shooters will need to find ways to penetrate the Leafs' defensive line, which has been effective in blocking shots. Ottawa has struggled with inner-slot shots, ranking last among playoff teams in this category. The Senators have attempted 280 total shots over four games, with only 102 on goal, 83 missed, and a staggering 95 blocked. This trend must change if they hope to pull off an upset in Game 5.
On the power play front, the Leafs have been effective, scoring four goals on seven opportunities in the first two games, but faltered in Game 4. The Senators' penalty kill will need to step up again, as they did when they successfully killed a four-minute power play in overtime during Game 4.
As for individual matchups, the performance of Matthew Knies has been a highlight for the Maple Leafs. His physical style and emerging playmaking ability have made him a key player in this series. He is expected to continue to challenge the Senators' defense, particularly Ridly Greig, who will need to step up for Ottawa.
With a series record of 3-1, the Maple Leafs are in a position to advance, but the Senators are a formidable opponent who has shown resilience. The pressure is on both teams as they approach this crucial Game 5 at Scotiabank Arena. Fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an electrifying matchup in the Battle of Ontario.
