There might not be an NHL first-round series with more built-in emotion than the Battle of Ontario between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Maple Leafs locked up first place in the Atlantic Division with a win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, while the Senators clinched the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Leafs players and coach Craig Berube are looking forward to taking on the Sens and adding another chapter to their storied rivalry with Ottawa.

“They're a good team,” Berube said Friday regarding the Senators. “They obviously have made a push this year to be where they’re at. They’ve got a core group of young players that have been together for a while, and they’ve gotten over that hump and made the playoffs. They’re a very good team, (and) it'll be a battle.”

Added Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews on Tuesday: “Obviously, they’re a good, young team. They’re hungry – they’ve taken steps as well. So I think it’s going to be great, it’s going to be fun. It’s good for hockey. Obviously, it’s going to be intense. So I think we’re looking forward to it.”

The rivalry between the Leafs and Senators dates back to Ottawa’s return to the NHL in 1992, but it accelerated in 1999-2000, when the Sens faced Toronto in the post-season for the first time. The Buds beat them in six games of their first-round matchup. 

Since then, the Leafs squared off against the Senators in three other playoff series, with Toronto winning each time.

The memories the Leafs and Sens created still resonate with Leafs players who were only toddlers when watching those games.

“I’m excited, bring it on,” Leafs left winger Steven Lorentz said. “It’s exciting for the fans, obviously. There’s a lot of passion. I grew up watching this series when I was a kid. I've got fond memories, and to be able to play in it now, it’s super special.”

Added goalie Anthony Stolarz: “Obviously, you hear about it. Being from the States, I grew up a Devils fan, so Devils/Rangers, it’s something similar to that. So it will be fun to be a part of, for sure.”

One of the biggest factors for the Senators in this Leafs series will be the play of captain and left winger Brady Tkachuk, who is about to experience the first playoff hockey of his seven-year NHL career. 

As the emotional engine for his Senators team, Tkachuk will be crucial to Ottawa’s chances to upset the Maple Leafs. 

Tkachuk’s brother and Cup-winning Florida Panthers left winger, Matthew Tkachuk, recently told THN.com’s Carol Schram that Brady Tkachuk will be a handful for Toronto in his initial playoff experience.

“I worry in advance for some of the defense on Toronto,” Matthew Tkachuk said. “I think Brady is going to have a lot of built-up anger over not playing in playoffs for the last few years, so he's going to be ready to go. Him when he's at his best, when he's physical and that skilled, he's a nightmare to play against.”

In any case, the Leafs and Senators series will be must-watch action for fans in Toronto, Ottawa and everywhere fans love passionate hockey. This is indeed a new generation of the Battle of Ontario, but the familiarity and history between the two franchises promise to ratchet up the emotions for all involved.

“It’s always fun to play against them,” Leafs right winger William Nylander told THN.com. “The atmosphere is always great, and a playoff against them will be pretty cool.”

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