The Ottawa Senators‘ backs are officially against the wall.
In the first playoff game in the nation’s capital since 2017, the Toronto Maple Leafs ruined the party at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday night, securing a 3-2 overtime victory and a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Simon Benoit played hero, burying the winner after Brady Tkachuk scored midway through the third period to set up the extra frame.
Mitch Marner led the way in regulation with a pair of assists, including a beautiful pass to Auston Matthews for the captain’s first goal of this post-season.
Anthony Stolarz was solid once again in between the pipes for Toronto in his third straight win.
Claude Giroux opened the scoring for Ottawa with a power-play marker in the second period, but the Maple Leafs responded less than eight minutes later, on a power-play goal of their own by Matthew Knies.
More to come.
