OTTAWA — What a showdown in the nation’s capital! The Toronto Maple Leafs survived a scare from their provincial rivals and finished the job in Game 6, knocking out the Ottawa Senators 4-2 to move on to Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. And the night’s hero? None other than veteran Max Pacioretty — returning from injury and writing the script with a go-ahead snipe late in the third.
Pacioretty’s Comeback Moment — Clutch Gene Activated
With just under six minutes to play in regulation, Pacioretty delivered the dagger — a perfectly placed wrister from the top of the left circle that beat Linus Ullmark glove-side. The goal broke a 2-2 tie and all but silenced a rowdy Canadian Tire Centre.
“It’s a huge goal, obviously,” said Leafs head coach Craig Berube. “He’s been in these battles before. He’s smart, competitive, and just gave us what we needed at the right time.”
The 36-year-old winger missed 27 games to close out the regular season and wasn’t activated until Game 3 of this series. But when his moment came, he didn’t miss.
“You just want to be part of it,” said Pacioretty. “To contribute in a meaningful way after everything — it’s emotional, no doubt.”
Matthews, Nylander Lead the Charge Early
Toronto came out firing and finally solved their power play woes. Auston Matthews opened the scoring at 18:50 of the first period with a wrist shot through traffic — the Leafs’ first power play goal in 31 elimination-game attempts.
William Nylander made it 2-0 early in the second, converting a turnover at Ottawa’s blue line into a quick-strike tally. It was one of three points on the night for Nylander, who also added an empty-net goal in the dying seconds to seal the deal.
“We knew what was at stake,” Matthews said. “It was about shutting out the noise and believing in our group. Feels good to close it out.”
Sens Push Back — But Comeback Falls Short
Ottawa wasn’t going down without a fight. Captain Brady Tkachuk tipped in a point shot to cut the deficit early in the third, and veteran David Perron stunned the Leafs with a strange one — banking a backhand off Anthony Stolarz’s helmet to tie the game 2-2 with just over seven minutes to play.
Still, Pacioretty’s late-game heroics ended the rally, and Toronto locked things down from there.
“It’s devastating,” said Tkachuk. “We poured everything into this. I’m proud of this team, proud of the guys.”
Berube Praises Team’s Resilience After Game 5 Setback
Toronto had stumbled in Games 4 and 5, losing a 3-0 series lead and letting doubts creep in. But Berube said the team’s mindset entering Game 6 was focused and mature.
“They were businesslike today,” said Berube. “We had the right mentality after Game 5. They came ready to play and earned it.”
Stolarz made 21 saves in the win, rebounding after being pulled in Game 5.
Next Stop: Florida Panthers in Round 2
The Leafs now turn their attention to a familiar foe — the Florida Panthers, who ended Toronto’s postseason last year. This time, the Leafs enter with top-seed swagger and a deeper, more battle-tested group.
Thunder Bay Lens — A Grit-Filled Victory for Northern Fans
For fans in Thunder Bay and across Northwestern Ontario, Pacioretty’s story resonates deeply: a tale of resilience, belief, and coming through when it matters most. The Maple Leafs — Ontario’s team — move on, and local hockey fever is only heating up.
