Senators 3, Maple Leafs 2
The Toronto Maple Leafs dropped a tightly contested Battle of Ontario on Saturday night, falling 3–2 to the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena.
Stephen Halliday scored the deciding goal in the third period, while Linus Ullmark turned aside 27 shots to backstop Ottawa to the victory. �
The loss leaves Toronto 1–2 to begin the 2026–27 regular season.
Matthews Gets on the Board
Auston Matthews opened his account for the new season, redirecting a Morgan Rielly shot past Ullmark to tie the game.
It was an important moment for Toronto’s captain after being held off the scoresheet in the Leafs’ opening two games.
Kirill Marchenko also found the net for Toronto, scoring his first goal as a Maple Leaf on the power play.
Third-Period Decider
With the game tied late, Ottawa’s Stephen Halliday delivered the difference-maker in the third period.
The Senators protected the advantage from there, with Ullmark making several key saves down the stretch to preserve the one-goal victory.
Goaltending
Linus Ullmark, Ottawa: 27 saves, earning the victory.
Sergei Bobrovsky, Toronto: Started for the Maple Leafs.
Key Takeaways
Auston Matthews: Scored his first goal of the season and provided Toronto with an important offensive spark.
Kirill Marchenko: Continued his strong early-season impact with a power-play goal.
Linus Ullmark: The difference-maker for Ottawa with 27 saves.
Stephen Halliday: Delivered the game-winning goal.
Toronto’s power play: Produced when Marchenko scored, but the Leafs needed more offensive production at even strength.
What It Means
Toronto showed plenty of fight in a game that remained close throughout, but another narrow defeat highlights the importance of finishing opportunities and getting timely saves.
The Leafs now have to regroup quickly as the early-season schedule continues.
The Battle of Ontario once again delivered a one-goal game, but this time the Senators had the final answer.
