Ottawa Senators plant seed of doubt with huge Game 5 win in Battle of Ontario

Ottawa Senators’ Dylan Cozens scores a short handed goal against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz in Toronto. Nathan Denette/The Canadian PressArticle content

SENATORS 4, LEAFS 0

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Toronto leads series 3-2

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The Ottawa Senators have planted the all-important seed of doubt in the Battle of Ontario.

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Facing elimination for the second time against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Senators refused to go quietly into the night with a 4-0 victory over their arch-rivals on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena.

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Trying to become only the fifth team in National Hockey League history to erase a 3-0 deficit to win a series, the Senators have Leaf Nation pushing the panic button by closing the gap in the Battle of Ontario to 3-2.

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This was goaltender Linus Ullmark’s best game of the series with 27 stops. Ullmark became only the second goalie in franchise history to record a shutout in the playoffs in an elimination game.

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“It’s not surprising,” said coach Travis Green. “We’ve got a lot of confidence in him, and rightfully so, and he was sharp again tonight.”

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Dylan Cozens and Thomas Chabot scored for the Senators, while Anthony Stolarz was solid for the Leafs. Captain Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle put it away in an empty net.

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“These are do-or-die games and we’re just doing everything we can to win,” said Tkachuk.

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Instead of packing their bags for the off-season, the Senators will bring the Leafs back to Ottawa with them for an emotional Game 6 on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Canadian Tire Centre.

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The Leafs came into this game with a 1-12 record in 13 elimination games since 2018. That’s why all eyes were on Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander to get the job done.

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The Senators knew if they could bring the Leafs back to Ottawa for there would be no question that the heat would be turned on high on the Toronto players because of the club’s checkered past.

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“Stick with it,” Toronto coach Craig Berube told his players.

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The Leafs were trying to close out a series at home for the first time since they last faced the Senators in 2004. A loss in this one would have Toronto trying to escape its playoff demons.

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“Anytime you lose one or two (games), the pressure is on,” said Cozens when asked if the Leafs are feeling the heat. “A lot of the focus is on Game 6. We’re just worried about what’s going on in our dressing room.”

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Cozens scored the Senators’ second shorthanded goal of the series with 11:36 left in the third to give the club a 2-0 lead. That had the Leaf faithful sitting in stunned silence as the clock ticked down.