The Ottawa Senators aren’t ready to go home just yet. Facing elimination for the second straight game, the Senators delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 5 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena. Linus Ullmark made 29 saves to notch the first playoff shutout of his career, as Ottawa cut the series deficit to 3-2.
Defenseman Thomas Chabot opened the scoring with his first-ever playoff goal early in the second period, while Dylan Cozens added a shorthanded tally in the third. Tim Stützle and Brady Tkachuk each contributed an empty-net goal and two assists to complete three-point performances in the critical win.
Ottawa has now won back-to-back elimination games after edging the Leafs 4-3 in overtime in Game 4 on Saturday — a victory that ended the franchise’s playoff win drought dating back to 2017. Tuesday’s result marks a second straight game where Ottawa’s special teams outperformed Toronto’s, including a stunning shorthanded goal against the Maple Leafs’ five-forward power play setup.
For the Maple Leafs, the loss continues a troubling trend: Toronto is now 1-13 in potential series-clinching games during the Auston Matthews–Mitch Marner era, a span dating back to 2018. Their only success came two years ago in a first-round series win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Leafs, who jumped out to a 3-0 series lead with dominant play and back-to-back overtime wins, now find themselves in dangerous territory. Only four teams in NHL history — the 1942 Maple Leafs, 1975 Islanders, 2010 Flyers, and 2014 Kings — have come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series. Ottawa now aims to join that exclusive group.
Chabot broke the ice 3:46 into the second period with a point shot through traffic following a clean offensive zone faceoff win. Toronto struggled to respond, looking out of sync for much of the middle frame.
A key turning point came in the third when Mitch Marner drew a power play after being tackled by Ridly Greig. But instead of capitalizing, the Leafs were caught on a 2-on-1 break, with Cozens finishing off a feed from Adam Gaudette to make it 2-0 with a shorty at 8:24.
Matthews, who hit the post in overtime of Game 4, found iron again late in the third as Toronto’s desperation surged. But the Senators would not bend. Stützle buried an empty-netter with 2:51 left, and Tkachuk followed shortly after to seal the victory.
Anthony Stolarz stopped 15 shots for Toronto in the loss.
Game 6 is set for Thursday in Ottawa, where the Senators will once again fight to extend their season — and perhaps push the Leafs to a nerve-wracking Game 7.
Can the Senators keep the miracle run alive on home ice?
