Game 1 and Game 2 for the Ottawa Senators' first round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs were played in Toronto. Both games ended in the same result with the Maple Leafs winning each game.
Now the series shifts to Canada's capital in Ottawa. For the Senators, it's do-or-die and a chance to accomplish a franchise first against the Maple Leafs.
Game 3 arrives for Sens-Leafs in nation's capital
The Senators host the Maple Leafs at Canadian Tire Centre for Game 3 of the first round of the 2025 playoffs. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Despite trailing 2-0 after the first period, the Brady Tkachuk and Adam Gaudette each scored a goal to force overtime, but overtime saw heartbreak for the Senators when Max Domi scored the overtime winner to give the Maple Leafs a 3-2 win in Game 2.
Toronto's win put Ottawa in an 0-2 series hole. Never in Senators history have they won a playoff series after trailing 0-2 in a series, but it's the challenge that the team must face now. The Senators are 0-9 all-time when they trail 0-2 in a playoff series.
In the first two games, Toronto has found success in two important areas. Toronto has seen major success on the powerplay with scoring four of its nine goals in the series, and is getting better goaltending.
Anthony Stolarz has outperformed Linus Ullmark through the first two games of the series. Stolarz has a 2.00 goals against average with a .934 save percentage compared to Ullmark's 4.39 goals against average and .800 save percentage.
Excitement and anticipation will be buzzing throughout Ottawa. Tonight is the first Senators home playoff game at Canadian Tire Centre since May 23, 2017. That night, the Senators defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 of the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals to force a Game 7.
Tonight, the Senators need a much needed win against the Maple Leafs to avoid going into an 0-3 series deficit.