BREAKING NEWS: Senators Goalie Must Kick Postseason Trend Against Maple Leafs
April 21, 2025 — As the Ottawa Senators prepare to face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs in a long-awaited playoff showdown, all eyes are on one critical piece of the puzzle: the Senators’ goaltending. Specifically, the pressure is mounting on Ottawa’s starting goalie, Joonas Korpisalo, to buck a troubling postseason trend that has haunted the Senators for years—subpar goaltending performances in the playoffs.
For the first time since 2017, Ottawa has clawed its way back into the postseason, led by an energetic young core featuring Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, and Jake Sanderson. But despite the talent up front and an improving blue line, the real x-factor in this Battle of Ontario is between the pipes.
In past playoff appearances, goaltending has often been the Achilles’ heel for Ottawa. From early exits marred by shaky starts to blown leads in tight series, the Senators have lacked the kind of steady, game-stealing presence in net that is often the difference between a first-round exit and a deep playoff run. Now, the team is betting that Korpisalo, brought in last offseason with a five-year deal to stabilize the crease, can finally flip the script.
“I know what’s at stake,” Korpisalo told reporters on Monday. “I’ve been in big moments before. This is why I’m here—to help this team win in the playoffs. That’s the goal.”
The matchup adds an extra layer of drama, as the Senators face their provincial rivals in a playoff series for the first time in over two decades. The Maple Leafs, while still carrying the weight of their own postseason baggage, have recently started to shed their “can’t-win-when-it-counts” label, winning a series in 2023 and remaining a perennial playoff team with star power like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander.
The Leafs boast one of the league’s most dangerous offensive units, and Korpisalo will need to be sharp from puck drop. During the regular season, Ottawa’s goaltending was a mixed bag. Korpisalo posted a .902 save percentage—decent, but not elite. Inconsistent defensive coverage didn’t help, but now, with the intensity of the playoffs looming, there’s little room for error.
Head coach D.J. Smith, who is also facing scrutiny about playoff expectations, remains confident in his starter.
“Joonas has been big for us down the stretch,” Smith said. “He’s calm, he’s experienced, and the guys believe in him. This is the moment we’ve been building toward.”
If Ottawa has any hope of advancing past the Maple Leafs and rewriting their postseason narrative, Korpisalo will have to outduel Toronto’s goaltending tandem and stand tall under pressure. The Senators’ offensive weapons can match firepower, but their fate will likely come down to whether their goalie can shut the door when it matters most.
For a franchise eager to take the next step—and finally gain some bragging rights over their southern Ontario foes—this series could be a defining chapter. And for Korpisalo, it’s a chance to become a playoff hero—or another name added to a long list of postseason question marks.