Yet another defeat for Toronto completes a disastrous end to the season, and is likely the final appearance for a number of players, most notably James Reimer, as well as a potential farewell for coach Randy Carlyle.
The Leafs were unable to get ahead in the first period, which ended scoreless, despite a lot of chances either way, with Toronto having the best of it at even strength.
Ottawa took charge of the game in the second period, getting a goal on the powerplay through Spezza, and dominating play, holding the Leafs to just two chances in the period.
The Leafs were clearly outchanced at even strength in the third period, but the real blame for their inability to get level falls to the powerplay, which came up with several good chances, but were unable to pull Toronto level, a continuation of a problem that has highlighted their late season collapse.
Ottawa outchanced Toronto, taking the win 16-11 at ES, and 23-18 overall. The Senators also managed to edge Toronto in ES close chances, 11-9.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
Ottawa |
Toronto |
Ottawa |
| 1 |
8 |
9 |
7 |
5 |
| 2 |
2 |
8 |
2 |
6 |
| 3 |
8 |
6 |
2 |
5 |
| Total |
18 |
23 |
11 |
16 |
Details below.
The final scoreline may have shown a clear win for Toronto, but it was anything but, as the Battle of Ontario was a tightly fought game, with the Leafs only getting ahead in the closing minutes.
Another bad start for Toronto, as they gave up a late goal in an otherwise quiet first, before falling behind by two midway through the second. They made a strong comeback in the second half, getting a pair of goals in quick succession, and handily winning chances in the frame.
After an exchange of goals in the first half of the third period, Toronto pulled away in the last 6 minutes, outchancing the Senators 5-0 over that stretch, and getting three goals, including an empty-netter, to secure the win.
Toronto won the chances, but narrowly, 16-13 overall and 13-12 at ES. Ottawa just edged the close chances, 9-8.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
Ottawa |
Toronto |
Ottawa |
| 1 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
| 2 |
6 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
| 3 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
| Total |
16 |
13 |
13 |
12 |
Details below.
With a large, supportive crowd backing them in Ottawa, the Leafs continued their struggles with a lead, giving up two in the third period, but managing to survive to the shootout, where they were perfect to earn a second straight win.
The two teams exchanged powerplay goals in the first, but the Senators had the better of the chances. The second period saw Ottawa's strong performance in chances continue, but the Leafs struck twice to take the lead, Kessell scoring early in the frame, and Gardiner scoring on a shot from the blue line.
Toronto generated only one chance in the final period, and none at even strength, and with Condra scoring an early goal, and Karlsson adding a powerplay marker, the game was level halfway through the period. Both sides were fairly defensive after the tying goal, as only a single chance came for either team before the end of regulation.
While there was a flurry of chances in the overtime, neither team was able to score, and the Leafs had a perfect shootout, scoring twice and getting two saves to win a second straight game.
The Leafs lost every period, but the real concern for them is that they generated just one even strength chance in the last 29 minutes, continuing a disturbing trend of third period struggles.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
Ottawa |
Toronto |
Ottawa |
| 1 |
6 |
10 |
5 |
8 |
| 2 |
4 |
8 |
3 |
5 |
| 3 |
1 |
8 |
0 |
5 |
| 4 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
| Total |
14 |
28 |
11 |
20 |
Details below.
The Leafs' home opener was a wild affair, with the highest number of shots, Corsi events and scoring chances of the three games this year. The two sides traded a lot of chances, as giveaways and some less than stellar defensive play made for wide-open play. Toronto led five minutes in, but Ottawa answered with a pair, before Kadri tied the game on the powerplay.
Toronto were the better team in the second, before a meltdown, Cowen scoring on a rebound and Spezza getting a fourth just 15 seconds later. This chased James Reimer from the net, and saw Jonathan Bernier make his home Leafs debut. He wouldn't allow another goal, as the Leafs outplayed the Sens substantially from that point on. Lupul pulled one back on a late powerplay, and JVR drew the teams level early in the third. While Ottawa had a couple of good third period chances, they had none in the last eight minutes, nor in the overtime. This has been a good sign in all three of the Leafs' games thus far this year; they've allowed just six chances in the last ten minutes of games, all while tied or defending leads.
The Leafs marginally outchanced the Sens in the first two periods, and were level on even strength, but that solid finish, and getting the only chances of overtime, saw them record their first game outchancing an opponent this year.
A summary of the scoring chances below the fold.
