TORONTO - The Toronto Maple Leafs are gearing up for an intense showdown as they welcome back key defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jake McCabe for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at 7 p.m. ET. This marks the first postseason Battle of Ontario in 21 years, igniting a long-standing rivalry that has been dormant since 2004.
Head coach Craig Berube confirmed the return of Ekman-Larsson, who had missed the final four games of the regular season due to an undisclosed injury. The 33-year-old defenseman is set to make a significant impact, having recorded 29 points (four goals, 25 assists) in 77 games this season. Ekman-Larsson skated on the third pair alongside Simon Benoit during practice, demonstrating his readiness for the playoff intensity.
Alongside him, Jake McCabe is also returning after missing the last seven games with an upper-body injury. The 31-year-old blueliner has been a crucial part of the Maple Leafs' defense, notching 23 points (two goals, 21 assists) in 66 games while averaging 21:31 minutes of ice time. McCabe will reunite with his regular partner, Chris Tanev, as they look to fortify Toronto’s defensive lineup.
The Senators, on the other hand, come into this series with a psychological edge, having swept the Maple Leafs in all three regular-season matchups. Ottawa triumphed 3-0 in Toronto on November 12, 2024, edged out a 2-1 victory in Ottawa on January 25, 2025, and capped off their dominance with a 4-2 win in Toronto on March 15, 2025. This track record adds immense pressure on the Leafs as they strive to break their losing streak against their provincial rivals.
"It's been a long time coming," said Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, who is also ready to make his playoff debut after taking a stick to the face during practice. Tkachuk expressed his excitement for the playoffs, reflecting on the childhood dreams of scoring a game-winner in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. "To finally be here is surreal."
As the Senators make their first playoff appearance in eight years, they are looking to build on their recent successes. The last time Ottawa competed in the postseason was in 2017, when they came within a game of reaching the Stanley Cup Final. The team, however, is relatively inexperienced, boasting only 298 postseason games among its players compared to 779 for the Maple Leafs.
With the return of Ekman-Larsson and McCabe, Toronto can revert to the defensive pairings they utilized after the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7, 2025: Brandon Carlo with Morgan Rielly, McCabe with Tanev, and Benoit with Ekman-Larsson. This reconfiguration aims to enhance their defensive structure as they prepare to face a Senators team that drew more penalties than any other NHL team this season, totaling 349.
Goaltender Anthony Stolarz will make his first career start in an NHL playoff game. Coming off a strong finish to the regular season, Stolarz has recorded shutouts in three of his last four games, bringing momentum into the playoff series. The Leafs will also have forward Max Pacioretty available for selection, although he is expected to be a healthy scratch.
As the teams prepare for Game 1, the stakes are high for both sides. The Maple Leafs are eager to capitalize on their playoff experience, while the Senators aim to prove their mettle against a formidable opponent. This matchup is not just about skill; it's about overcoming psychological barriers and establishing dominance in a storied rivalry.
"We get along extremely well," Tanev said about his partnership with McCabe. "We see the game very similarly and can bounce thoughts off each other in real time." The chemistry between the defensemen will be vital as they seek to contain the Senators' offensive threats.
In terms of playoff history, this series represents a significant moment for both franchises. The last time the Maple Leafs faced the Senators in the playoffs was on April 20, 2004, when Toronto defeated Ottawa 3-1 in Game 7 of their first-round series. With 7,670 days since that last encounter, fans are eager to see how the rivalry unfolds in the modern era.
As the puck drops on this highly anticipated series, the Maple Leafs are not only looking to secure a victory in Game 1 but to set the tone for the remainder of the series. The performance of Ekman-Larsson and McCabe will be critical in determining the outcome, and their presence on the ice could be the difference-maker for Toronto.
With the excitement building and the stakes higher than ever, both teams will be looking to make a statement in this first game. Can the Maple Leafs finally overcome their regular-season woes against the Senators, or will Ottawa continue its dominance? The answer will unfold on the ice as the postseason Battle of Ontario commences.
