Senators Run Into Brick Woll in 4-3 Loss to Maple Leafs Thursday Night

The Senators badly outshot Toronto but mistakes and an inability to finish their chances proved costly.

In the season's second installment of the Battle of Ontario, the Ottawa Senators lost at home to the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 on Thursday night. 

Joseph Woll was spectacular for the Leafs with 29 saves but left the game with a lower-body injury in the third period. Martin Jones came off the bench and held off the Senators' late comeback attempt. Ottawa now falls below 500 again at 10-11-0.

The Senators came out flying to start the game, but Woll made several huge stops, including a breakaway save on Mathieu Joseph and a pair of fantastic glove saves on Vladimir Tarasenko. 

The Senators made it 1-0 thanks to Jakob Chychrun's long pass to Josh Norris, who went on a breakaway and scored, five-hole, on Joseph Woll.

The Senators' poor second-period trend continued as the Leafs scored 1:42 into the middle frame to tie the game at one. A bad Ottawa line change set Mitch Marner free down the right wing, and he beat Forsberg blocker-side.

Woll robbed Tarasenko for a second time in almost the same manner as in the first period when Erik Brannstrom set up Tarasenko at the side of the net, but Woll lunged out to make another diving glove save.

David Kampf made it 2-1 Toronto as he took a puck off the boards from a missed shot, dragged it to the side of the net, and jammed it through Forsberg's legs while at least a couple of Senator defenders watched it happen.

The Leafs grabbed a 3-1 lead in the third period, as they took full advantage of Travis Hamonic breaking his stick at the Leafs blueline. They went on an odd-man rush, eventually leading to a backdoor pass for Calle Jarnkrok, who tapped it in on the doorstep.

The Senators countered via Jacob Bernard-Docker's first NHL goal to cut the Leafs lead to 3-2. JBD's point shot went straight through Woll.

Midway through the third, the Leafs were dealt a huge injury blow as Woll left the game in discomfort with an apparent lower-body injury. Martin Jones, who had been recalled on an emergency basis, took the net for the remainder of the game.

The Leafs didn't waver and scored immediately to double their lead to 4-2. Another poor Senators line change allowed William Nylander to walk down mainstreet, wristing a shot past Forsberg's glove.

The Senators pulled the goalie with three minutes left and scored to make it 4-3 with 1:53 left. Claude Giroux ripped home a one-timer from the faceoff dot. Despite a 6 on 4 power play in the final minute and multiple Josh Norris one-timer attempts, the Senators comeback fell short.

The Sens return to action on Saturday at 7 pm against the Detroit Red Wings in the second edition of the Alex DeBrincat Bowl.