NEWS FLASH: How the Senators Can Exploit the Maple Leafs’ Deficiencies at Five-on-Five in Game 2
As the Ottawa Senators prepare to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 2 of their playoff series, there’s a clear opportunity for them to shift momentum by capitalizing on Toronto’s vulnerabilities at five-on-five. Despite the Leafs securing a win in Game 1, cracks in their even-strength play were evident — and Ottawa must pounce if they want to even the series.
Toronto’s top-heavy roster has always leaned heavily on their core four: Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares. But in Game 1, beyond Matthews’ highlight-reel goal, the Leafs’ depth forwards struggled to generate sustained pressure. Ottawa, boasting a younger and more balanced forward group, can take advantage by rolling four lines aggressively and pushing the pace.
The Senators need to target Toronto’s second and third defensive pairings — specifically exploiting the lack of mobility from players like T.J. Brodie and Jake McCabe when faced with forechecking pressure. In Game 1, multiple sequences saw Toronto pinned in their own zone due to weak breakout attempts and slow decision-making under pressure. Ottawa’s high-energy wingers, like Ridly Greig and Mathieu Joseph, must continue to hound puck carriers and force turnovers in transition.
Possession metrics also hint at a path to victory. At five-on-five, the Senators actually edged the Leafs in expected goals (xG), but failed to convert on quality chances. By tightening their net-front presence and increasing traffic on goaltender Ilya Samsonov, Ottawa can convert those high-danger chances that slipped away in Game 1. Senators coach Jacques Martin emphasized this postgame, noting, “We had the looks — now it’s about finishing.”
Defensively, Ottawa needs to contain Toronto’s rush chances. The Leafs remain lethal when attacking with speed, especially when Matthews or Nylander carries the puck through the neutral zone. But they’ve shown a tendency to overcommit offensively, opening up space for counterattacks. Look for the Senators to deploy a more conservative gap at the blue line while springing forwards like Tim Stützle and Drake Batherson with quick outlet passes the other way.
Special teams were a non-factor in Game 1 — but Ottawa can’t rely on the power play to bail them out. They must assert dominance at even strength, where the margins are thinner but the opportunity is greater. Limiting neutral zone turnovers and winning puck battles in the corners will be key areas of focus heading into Game 2.
If Ottawa can convert their forechecking pressure into sustained offensive zone time — and exploit Toronto’s depth and defensive lapses — the series could look very different in just a few days. The stage is set at Scotiabank Arena for a Game 2 showdown that could redefine the series narrative.
View Details:
- Puck drop for Game 2 is set for 7:00 PM ET.
- Ottawa trails the series 0-1.
- Watch live on Sportsnet and TSN5.