Simon Benoit emerges as Toronto’s unlikely hero—again—as Maple Leafs inch closer to playoff sweep
OTTAWA – NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS — If you’re looking for a feel-good playoff story, look no further than Simon Benoit—Toronto’s unlikely Game 3 hero and, officially, the Maple Leafs’ new Mr. Overtime.
The unheralded 26-year-old blueliner from Laval, Quebec, didn’t just show up—he shut it down. With a booming slapshot just 1:19 into overtime, Benoit lifted the Maple Leafs to a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators and a commanding 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference First Round series.
Depth Delivers in Crunch Time
Forget the big guns for a second. This wasn’t Matthews, Marner, or Nylander stealing the spotlight. It was Benoit—the third-pairing grinder turned playoff game-breaker—who made the difference in back-to-back OT thrillers.
“When you don’t score many goals, yeah, this is probably the biggest,” Benoit chuckled post-game, flashing a sheepish grin. “Second-biggest? Probably peewee or something.”
Cue the laughter. Cue the legend growing in real time.
Playoff Lightning Strikes Twice
Let’s put this in perspective. On Tuesday night in Game 2, Benoit was the setup man, feeding Max Domi for the OT winner. Forty-eight hours later? He finished the job himself, hammering a blast past Linus Ullmark that sent Leafs fans into a frenzy—and the Senators reeling.
“He’s just a warrior,” Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz said. “Blocked two shots in the final seconds of regulation, then wins it in OT. That’s Benoit in a nutshell.”
A Flashback to 2001
Here’s a playoff déjà vu for long-time fans: Back in 2001, depth defenseman Cory Cross scored in overtime in Game 3 to give Toronto a 3-2 win over… you guessed it, Ottawa. Fast forward to 2025, and it’s Benoit playing the Cross role in another 3-2 overtime classic.
And just like that, the Leafs are one win away from their first playoff sweep since that very series against Ottawa.
From Long Shot to Prime Time
Let’s not forget where this journey began. Undrafted. AHL start in San Diego. Three seasons in Anaheim. Signed by Toronto for $775,000. Not exactly the offensive juggernaut—six career NHL goals in 279 games.
But playoff hockey is a different animal. It’s about grit. Timing. Opportunity.
“In the playoffs, it’s not always the same guys,” Benoit said. “It’s fun when other guys step up, because we know how hard it is to score.”
From Dad Duty to Defensive Rock
This season started with Benoit becoming a new dad—and a lot of sleep deprivation. He admits the early season was rough. But the Leafs stuck with him. And now? He’s rewarding that faith in the biggest way possible.
“I guess in the playoffs anything can happen,” Benoit said with a grin.
He’s living proof.
Up Next: Saturday Showdown on Hockey Night in Canada
The Leafs will look to close out the series Saturday night in Game 4 at Canadian Tire Centre (7 p.m. ET, CBC, SN, TVAS, TBS). A win would mark only their second playoff series victory in 20 years, and just the third sweep in franchise history.
Will it be another hero? Or is Mr. Overtime ready for an encore?