After defeating the Boston Bruins 3-2 in overtime in Beantown on Saturday night, the Ottawa Senators headed to The 6 for the first Battle of Ontario meeting of the 2024-25 season against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
This year's preseason saw the Senators have success against the Maple Leafs as the Senators won both preseason games, and the Senators were eager to carry over their success against the Maple Leafs from last season to this season. In the first Battle of Ontario this season, the Senators dominated.
The Senators defeated the Maple Leafs 3-0 at Scotiabank Arena to improve to 8-7-0 on the season. The Senators ended the Maple Leafs' three-game winning streak to drop them to 9-6-2, and have won their past two road games after dropping five of their first six road games of the season.
Prior to the game, the Senators received big news that Shane Pinto was returning to the lineup after missing the eight games. Although Pinto went pointless in his return, it didn't stop the Senators from dominating the Maple Leafs.
2. Senators' offense was red hot to start
Josh Norris started off the last game scoring the first goal of the game against the Bruins. Against the Maple Leafs, Norris scored the first goal of the game again just 41 seconds into the game. Once Norris scored 41 seconds in, the Senators' offense didn't let up and finished with 17 shots on goal in the first period.
In the second period, the Senators' offense continued to shoot the puck from all angles and finished with 18 shots on goal for the period. Tim Stutzle and Michael Amadio each scored a goal in a 43-second span to help put the Senators up 3-0 in the second period. Stutzle scored in his 300th career NHL game and Amadio has scored for the second consecutive game.
Claude Giroux went pointless for the first five games of November, but he recorded an assist tonight. Artem Zub recorded his first points of the season by having two assists, and Thomas Chabot has recorded points in three straight and also in seven of the last 10 games.
When the Senators' offense is clicking, it can be one offenses in the NHL. Against one of the top teams in the East tonight, the Senators showed just how good their offense can be.
1. Linus Ullmark and the defense impress again
Linus Ullmark began November rough with losing his first two starts. In his last start against the Bruins, Ullmark earned his third win as a Senator, but he hadn't won two consecutive starts this season. That was until tonight.
Ullmark recorded a 27-save shutout against the Maple Leafs to not only win his second consecutive start, but also to record his first shutout as a Senator. Ullmark is now showing more confidence and why he's viewed as one of the best goaltenders in the NHL.
A huge reason why the Senators won against the Bruins on Saturday was due to their defense. Against the Bruins, the Senators only allowed one shot on goal in the third period and overtime combined. Tonight against the Maple Leafs in the second period, the Maple Leafs went through a stretch where they had not recorded a shot on goal in nine minutes. The Senators' defense was at it again with not allowing a shot on goal for a significant amount of time.
The Senators will return to action on Thursday night when they host the Philadelphia Flyers at 7 p.m. ET at Canadian Tire Centre. The Flyers have a 6-8-2 record with having won two of their last three games in a shootout, and are two points behind the Senators in the Eastern Conference.