By Joshua Kloke and Julian McKenzie
The latest Battle of Ontario is in a familiar spot, with the Ottawa Senators teetering on the brink of elimination.
In the first playoff game in Ottawa since 2017, a raucous crowd couldn’t push the Senators to their first win of the series. Instead, the Maple Leafs kept their head above water through a testy first two periods and then in overtime, when Simon Benoit emerged as the unlikely hero with a slap shot from the point.
Benoit‘s goal gave the Leafs their second consecutive 3-2 overtime win and a 3-0 series lead.
The Leafs did as they’ve done all series, keeping the Senators to the outside. And they got contributions they needed from their best players, which made the difference.
The Senators faithful deserve full marks for showing up and getting loud amid fears the Canadian Tire Centre would be taken over by Leafs fans. Yet with the results in the series now being as one-sided as they are, it certainly feels like those same Senators fans might get just one more home game this series.