Benoit scores in OT to give the Maple Leafs a 3-2 win over the Senators
and a 3-0 series lead
[April 25, 2025]
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) —
Simon Benoit scored on a slap shot from the point at 1:19 of overtime to
give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators and
a 3-0 lead in the first-round series.
“I just lifted both of my arms and didn’t move,” Benoit said. “I saw all
those guys coming towards me. Good feeling.”
Auston Matthews won a faceoff back to Benoit at the left point, and the
defenseman fired a low shot through traffic that beat goalie Linus
Ullmark to far post. |
Toronto Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies (23), celebrates his goal with John
Tavares (91) and Auston Matthews (34) as Ottawa Senators' Artem Zub (2)
skates past during the second period of Game 3 in the first round of NHL
hockey playoff series action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, April 24,
2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP) |
|
“It’s always great when a guy like that scores
a big goal,” Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “Benny’s
played extremely well for us defensively, and been hard to play
against and does all those things.”
Toronto also won 3-2 in overtime — on Max Domi's early goal — at
home Tuesday night. Game 4 is Saturday night in Ottawa.
“One thing I know about our team is we’re not going to lay
down,” Ottawa coach Travis Green said. “We’re not going to go
away. We’re going to be ready to play.”
Matthews and Matthew Knies also scored for Toronto, and Anthony
Stolarz made 18 saves.
Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux scored for Ottawa. Ullmark
stopped 17 shots.
Tkachuk tied it at 2 for Ottawa with 8:38 left in regulation. On
a rush, he beat Stolarz with a low wrist shot from the high
slot.
Matthews gave Toronto a 2-1 lead 32 seconds into the third,
scoring from close range off Mitch Marner's pass from behind the
goal.
The teams traded power-play goals in the second period. Giroux
opened the scoring for Ottawa at 1:38, and Knies tied it at
8:31.
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