The Battle of Ontario playoff series saw the Toronto Maple Leafs dominate the Ottawa Senators with a commanding 4-1 lead after the second period. Goalie Anthony Stolarz made a pivotal save against Brady Tkachuk's breakaway early in the period, showcasing his skills. The Leafs capitalized on their power plays, with John Tavares scoring off a William Nylander shot rebound just seconds after the first penalty. The Senators struggled as they faced multiple penalties, including a major for cross-checking, which was controversially downgraded.

In a party atmosphere at Scotiabank Arena, the Leafs initially took the lead with a wrist shot from Oliver Ekman-Larsson, followed by a breakaway goal from Mitch Marner. Ottawa’s Drake Batherson managed to pull one back, but it wasn’t enough against a strong Leafs side. Coach Craig Berube expressed the team's excitement for the playoff atmosphere, while Ottawa's Travis Green acknowledged the underdog mentality of his squad.