Sun Apr 20 22:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Battle of Ontario Renewed: Senators and Maple Leafs Clash in Playoff Showdown
**Toronto, ON** – After an eight-year absence, the Ottawa Senators return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, facing their provincial rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs, in a highly anticipated first-round matchup. Game 1 is set for Sunday at 7 p.m. ET. This marks the first postseason meeting between the two teams since 2004, reigniting a classic Battle of Ontario rivalry.
The Leafs will welcome back key defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jake McCabe, who have recovered from undisclosed injuries. Ekman-Larsson, who tallied 29 points this season, and McCabe, with 23 points, will bolster Toronto’s blue line. Despite the returns, Max Pacioretty remains a healthy scratch. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz, making his playoff debut, will start for Toronto after a strong end to the regular season.
Ottawa, meanwhile, enters the playoffs with a significant underdog tag, having last appeared in 2017. Captain Brady Tkachuk, playing in his first career playoff game, declared the moment “surreal” after a minor scare during Saturday’s practice where he took a stick to the face. Despite their playoff inexperience, the Senators are riding high on a three-game regular season sweep over the Leafs, showcasing a stingy defense that stifled Toronto’s high-powered offense. Veterans David Perron and Claude Giroux will be crucial in guiding the young Senators team through the playoffs.
The Leafs, boasting a significantly more experienced playoff roster, will need to maintain discipline against a feisty Senators team known for drawing penalties. Coach Craig Berube acknowledged Ottawa’s strength, emphasizing the need for preparedness against a team that will “come hard and push.”
The series promises a thrilling clash of styles, pitting Toronto’s offensive firepower against Ottawa’s resilient defense. The long-awaited rematch between these historic rivals is set to be a highlight of the first round.
First Piper 