The Ottawa Senators aren’t ready to go home just yet. Facing elimination in Game 5 of the Battle of Ontario playoff series, the Senators delivered a commanding performance, shutting out the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0 to force a crucial Game 6. With the victory, Ottawa narrows the series deficit to 3-2, reigniting one of the NHL’s most intense rivalries.
Ottawa came out with urgency and grit, outskating and outmuscling the Leafs from the opening puck drop. Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo was sensational between the pipes, stopping all 36 shots he faced to earn the shutout. Offensively, the Senators capitalized on key opportunities, with goals from Tim Stützle, Brady Tkachuk, and Claude Giroux, while Drake Batherson sealed the win with an empty-netter.
Toronto, who had been riding momentum after three straight wins, looked flat and disconnected throughout the game. Despite generating chances, the Leafs were unable to solve Korpisalo, and their defensive lapses proved costly.
Game 6 now shifts back to Ottawa, where the home crowd will be buzzing with hope. The Senators, once on the brink, now believe they can extend the series to a winner-takes-all Game 7. For Toronto, the pressure is mounting as they risk letting the series slip away.
The Battle of Ontario is far from over, and with tensions high, all eyes will be on what promises to be a thrilling Game 6 showdown.
