The Ottawa Senators' 2025-26 season arrived today with the preseason being the first step for the new season. The Senators' first preseason opponent was an old rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The first preseason game will offer anticipation for prospects and top players to show improvement in the game. However, the first preseason game turned into too little too late.
The Maple Leafs defeated the Senators 4-3 at Canadian Tire Centre to kick off the 2025 preseason. The Maple Leafs get an early revenge win before the regular season starts after the Senators defeated the Maple Leafs eight days ago in the Prospects Showdown.
The game started out for rough for Ottawa immediately when Calle Jarnkark beat Linus Ullmark 47 seconds into the game to give Toronto an early 1-0 lead. Exactly 12 minutes later, Nicholas Robertson extended the lead to 2-0. Then, with exactly two minutes remaining in the first period, William Villeneuve scored a powerplay goal to make it 3-0. Ullmark was done in goal after the first period for Mads Sogaard.
Despite trailing 3-0 after 20 minutes of play, the Senators didn't quit in the second period. Ridly Greig and Arthur Kaliyev each scored a goal for the Senators in the period, and the team faced a 4-2 deficit heading into the second intermission.
At 4:33 of the third period, Olle Lycksell scored a powerplay goal to cut the deficit to 4-3. Momentum was on the Senators' side with scoring two goals to cut the deficit to one. However, the Senators couldn't find their way to score another goal to tie the game.
In relief of Ullmark, Sogaard looked better in goal and stopped 11-of-12 Maple Leaf shots on goal that he faced. Greig recorded an assist along with his goal to finish with a two-point game. Drake Batherson was the only other Senator who recorded a two-point game by recording two assists in the loss.
On Tuesday night, the Senators and Maple Leafs will meet again in the preseason for the second game in three days between the two teams. This time the game will be played in Toronto at Scotiabank Arena. Puck drop for Tuesday is 7 p.m. ET.