SportsToronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Fall to Senators in Tight Contest at Canadian Tire Centre

OTTAWA – The Toronto Maple Leafs dropped a close 2-1 decision to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night at the Canadian Tire Centre. Despite a strong effort from goaltender Joseph Woll and an early goal from Bobby McMann, the Leafs couldn’t secure a victory in this Battle of Ontario matchup.

McMann opened the scoring for Toronto just 3:46 into the first period, capitalizing on a crisp pass from Mitch Marner, with an additional assist credited to Oliver Ekman-Larsson. McMann’s 14th goal of the season gave the Leafs an early edge, but the Senators soon found their stride.

Ottawa responded on the power play at 10:43 of the first period. Tim Stützle notched his 16th goal of the season, assisted by Jake Sanderson and Claude Giroux, taking advantage of a cross-checking penalty against Toronto’s Max Domi.

The game-winning goal came in the third period when Ottawa’s Shane Pinto scored at 10:47. Assisted by Thomas Chabot and Matthew Highmore, Pinto’s ninth goal of the season proved decisive. The Leafs pressed hard in the final minutes, even pulling Woll for an extra attacker, but Anton Forsberg stood tall in the Senators’ net.

Woll faced 23 shots, turning away 21 of them, and kept the Leafs in contention throughout the game. Forsberg, named the game’s second star, stopped 28 of Toronto’s 29 shots to secure the win for Ottawa.

Toronto’s power play went 0-for-1, while Ottawa’s unit converted 1-for-2. Penalties played a significant role in the game’s momentum, with the Leafs accumulating six penalty minutes in the first period.

The Maple Leafs will look to rebound as they head back to Toronto for their next matchup. Puck drop is set for Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena, where they’ll face the Minnesota Wild.

Ennio Sorgini

Ennio Sorgini is our Hockey Analyst, specializing in coverage of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Marlies. With a wealth of knowledge and a passion for the sport, Sorgini provides expert analysis, player insights, and game breakdowns for both teams. For inquiries or feedback, contact Ennio at ennio.sorgini@gtaweekly.ca.

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