Toronto Maple Leafs seized a commanding 1-0 series lead against the Ottawa Senators in their playoff opener, demonstrating their strength with a powerful 6-2 victory, heavily driven by their revitalized special teams. Mitch Marner, who struggled in the previous postseason, exploded for three points in Game 1, matching his entire output from last year's first round. The Leafs capitalized on three power-play opportunities out of six, a significant turnaround from last season’s dismal performance.

After a scoreless first period, the Leafs broke the deadlock early in the second, courtesy of Oliver Ekman-Larsson's goal, followed swiftly by Marner's conversion. Although Ottawa’s Drake Batherson narrowed the gap, John Tavares restored the two-goal lead with a power-play rebound. The Leafs continued their offensive assault, with Tavares and William Nylander contributing significantly to the scoreline. Matthew Knies capped off the scoring with a late goal, securing the victory for Toronto. The two teams return for Game 2, where Toronto looks to extend their lead.