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Battle of Ontario Prediction |
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The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs return to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, for the first time since 2017, and the reward is a provincial round one battle with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Ottawa and Toronto have faced off three times this season; the Senators won all three games combining to a score of 9-3, including a shutout in the first outcome.
Both teams shook up their defense, goaltending, and coaching over the summer while adding offense at the trade deadline.
Ottawa is still dealing with growing pains, but offers a lot of upside. Toronto is in win now mode given the pending free agents and the age of their core.
Ottawa has the grit and toughness to edge the Leafs; and maybe the better goaltender in Linus Ullmark.
How can the Leafs win the series
1. Recent Experiences — between the winnings from Berube, OEL, Lorentz, and Stolarz, accomplished veteran presence may help the core get over the hump.
2. Future of Marner — this could be the final season of winger Mitchell Marner, who is a pending unrestricted free agent and is looking for that healthy pay raise with a new contract.
3. Adverse Auston — Leafs forward Auston Matthews has been open about his upper body injury over the season and how it may impact him going forward. His first full season as the captain of Toronto is facing its biggest test with the postseason.
How the Senators win the series
1. Toughness from Tkachuk Through — the physicality will be need to push and get under the skin of Toronto in each and every single game. Despite the regular season, we all know the playoffs are different.
2. Ullmark — the undisputed number one starter of the Ottawa Senators goaltending crease must stand on his head to pull a game or two away from the Maple Leafs.
3. Deadline Deals — Dylan Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund have been valuable additions to the Ottawa roster since trade deadline that did see Josh Norris and Noah Gregor leave the franchise.
X Factor
Senators — Claude Giroux — the 2006 first round draft pick has 81 playoff points in 95 career games between the Flyers and Panthers, including a 2010 Cup final appearance.
Maple Leafs — John Tavares — the 2009 first overall draft selection has 46 points in 62 postseason games; highlighted by two second rounds appearances with the New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Dark Horse
Sens — Adam Gaudette — after a breakout 17 goals this season with Ottawa, the depth scoring he provided will be crucial toward an upset. Any point will become his first ever postseason point.
Leafs — Max Pacioretty — the veteran has been in and out with injury, but has proven to still have the goal scoring touch.
Black Ace
OTT — Ridly Greig — his first ever postseason performance will be a competitive one, and may involve punches and points. He did instigate a brawl last season after the slap shot on the empty net that triggered Morgan Reilly. After a career high 33 points, the 2020 first round pick may prove to a be a late steal from the draft.
TOR — Janni Hakanpää — after spending most of the season rehabbing a knee injury, a healthy veteran defenseman on the Leafs’ backend may shut down the depth scoring of the Senators.
Final Prediction
Every postseason does have upsets, and this might be the one I truly believe can happen. The Leafs always struggle. Ottawa has the vibes, aggression, and goaltending plus a playoff debut in Brady Tkachuk.
Ottawa in 7. Batherson OT GWG on Stolarz.
What are your thoughts and excitement levels for the playoffs back in Ottawa?
More to come…
Ottawa Senators Blogger • 
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