It’s Game Day!
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators continue their first-round series tonight with Game 2 of the Battle of Ontario. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. EST.
The Maple Leafs will look to take a 2-0 lead in the series before it shifts to Ottawa. In Game 1, Toronto came out flying, jumped out to a 2-0 lead, and never looked back—eventually cruising to a 6-2 win to grab the early series advantage.
Ottawa tried to play a physical game, but it ended up working against them. The Senators paraded to the penalty box six times, which played right into the Leafs’ hands. Toronto capitalized, scoring three power-play goals within the first 10 seconds of each of those man advantages. Discipline will need to be a top priority for Ottawa heading into tonight’s game. They still want to play a heavy style, but they’ll need to walk the line carefully.
Related: 2 Takeaways From the Maple Leafs’ 6-2 Win Over the Senators
It’ll be interesting to see how the Senators respond to their very undisciplined start to the series, it can be tough given their inexperience in the playoffs. However, something will need to change or this series will be over in four games. Ottawa needs to regroup ahead of Game 2 and come into tonight’s game and worry more about playing a simpler game to try and tie the series.
As for the Maple Leafs, they’ll need to keep pushing back physically while leaning on their experience and top-end skill to take control of the series.
Team Stats
Toronto Maple Leafs
Series Record: 1-0
Top 5 Scorers:
- Mitch Marner: 1 G, 2 A, 3 P
- John Tavares: 1 G, 1 A, 2 P
- Auston Matthews: 0 G, 2 A, 2 P
- William Nylander: 1 G, 1 A, 2 P
- Matthew Knies: 0 G, 1 A, 1 P
Goalie Stats:
- Anthony Stolarz: 1-0, 2.00 GAA, .939 SV%
Ottawa Senators
Series Record: 0-1
Top 5 Scorers:
- Drake Batherson: 1 G, 0 A, 1 P
- David Perron: 0 G, 1 A, 1 P
- Michael Amadio: 1 G, 0 A, 1 P
- Ridley Greig: 1 G, 0 A, 1 P
- Dylan Cozens: 0 G, 1 A, 1 P
Goalie Stats:
- Linus Ullmark: 0-1, 6.01 GAA, .750 SV%
Projected Lineups
There are just projections, these lineups are subject to change before the drop of the puck.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Matthew Knies – Auston Matthews – Mitch Marner
Pontus Holmberg – John Tavares – William Nylander
Bobby McMann – Max Domi – Nick Robertson
Steven Lorentz – Scott Laughton – Calle Järnkrok
Jake McCabe – Chris Tanev
Morgan Rielly – Brandon Carlo
Simon Benoit – Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll
Scratched: Max Pacioretty, David Kämpf, Ryan Reaves, Dakota Mermis, Philippe Myers
Ottawa Senators
Brady Tkachuk – Tim Stützle – Claude Giroux
David Perron – Dylan Cozens – Drake Batherson
Ridley Greig – Shane Pinto – Michael Amadio
Matthew Highmore – Adam Gaudette – Fabian Zetterlund
Jake Sanderson – Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot – Nik Jensen
Tyler Kleven – Nikolas Matinpalo
Linus Ullmark
Anton Forsberg
Scratched: Nick Cousins, Dennis Gilbert, Travis Hamonic
Game 2 Prediction
After my Game 1 prediction nearly hit the mark, I’m sticking with Toronto for Game 2. The Maple Leafs looked in control from the opening puck drop, and with the core four producing, they finally look like a team ready to take that next step.
Related: 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1 Hub
I predicted Toronto in five before the series started in my first round series preview, and I still feel good about that. Give me the Maple Leafs to win Game 2, 4-1.
