Ottawa Senators' Adam Gaudette battles with Toronto Maple Leafs' Steven Lorentz along the boards during third period NHL playoff action in Ottawa, on April 26.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
The Senators saved their season – for now – by defeating the Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime on Saturday at Canadian Tire Centre.
Jake Sanderson netted a long wrist shot with 2:18 left in the extra period to give Ottawa its first victory in four first-round games.
Toronto had taken a 3-0 lead in the playoff series by beating Ottawa in each of the two previous games in overtime.
“It feels great,” said Tim Stutzle, a star centre for Ottawa. “It is great for our group to win in overtime. It gives us a lot of confidence.”
Toronto failed to score on a four-minute power play in overtime when Drake Batherson was called for high sticking.
“That was four long minutes,” said David Perron, a forward for the Senators. “Our penalty-killers did a great job. When a moment like that happens, you want to win it for them.”
Said Travis Green, the Ottawa coach: “I don’t know if it was a boost for us, but it was a relief.”
The Maple Leafs can win the best-of-seven matchup at home on Tuesday. If needed, a Game 6 would be played back in Ottawa on Thursday.
The winner of the series will face the winner between Florida and Tampa Bay. The Lightning won on Saturday but trails 2-1 against the reigning Stanley Cup champions.
Toronto had battled back from a 2-0 deficit in the first period and tied it at 3-3 in the third on a goal by Oliver Ekman-Larsson with 5:29 remaining in regulation time.
The Maple Leafs had hoped to sweep a post-season series for the first time since 2001 but came up just short.
Ottawa goalie Linus Ullmark had 32 saves on 35 shots in the winning effort. Anthony Stolarz, who had won 11 straight games, stopped 17 of 21.
Cheered on by a raucous crowd, the Senators took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period. Stutzle, who had one assist in the first three games, slapped a puck past Stolarz from 39 feet out.
The goal game on a power play after Max Domi was called for roughing while taking a face-off.
Ottawa increased its margin to 2-0 when it scored short-handed with 5:49 remaining in the first period. Shane Pinto squeaked one past Stolarz on a breakaway. It was also the centre’s first goal of the series.
Toronto got on the board just 55 seconds before the intermission when John Tavares tipped a shot past Ullmark. It was the former captain’s third goal in four games.
Fans whooped it up; again chiding Auston Matthews for his hair loss: “Matthews is balding.” Later they chanted “Marner is leaving.” Mitch Marner’s contract expires at the end of the playoffs.
The Maple Leafs’ fortunes turned around a bit in the second. Matthew Knies scored on a breakaway with 9:48 to go, beating Ullmark from eight feet out as he charged the net.
In the third period, Perron scored for the Senators, forging a 3-2 lead. Then Ekman-Larsson scored for the second time iin the first round to send it to overtime.
The Maple Leafs hope to win their second playoff series in nine years. The Senators are back in the post-season after an absence of eight years.
Only four NHL teams have come back to win a post-season series in more than 100 years after falling behind 3-0.
In the two previous games Toronto’s goals in overtime came from secondary sources. Domi scored in Game 2 and defenceman Simon Benoit, who had one goal in 79 regular-season games, won Game 3.
The Maple Leafs’ goaltending had been superior until Saturday. Stolarz had limited Ottawa to two goals in each of the first three games and came in with a .926 save percentage for the series.
“We wanted to throw everything at the net and make it harder for him,” Perron said.
“We need to get in his eyes a bit and get bodies around him and cause more chaos.”
Nick Cousins, another centre for the Senators, was fined US$2,083.33 by the NHL late Friday for unsportsmanlike conduct for shooting pucks at Stolarz during warm-ups on Thursday. In addition, the team was fined US$25,000, also for unsportsmanlike conduct.
In nearly 80 minutes, the teams combined to take 55 shots, had 73 hits, blocked 45 shots and took 61 face-offs.
“This was just a classic playoff game,” Perron said.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the Maple Leafs’ fifth playoff game will take place on Monday, and Game 6 will take place Wednesday, if needed. Game 5 will take place Tuesday, and Game 6 on Thursday, if needed. This version has been updated.