If the Ottawa Senators are going to make this a series, there are some obvious adjustments they need to make.
The Senators finally got to play in a Stanley Cup playoff game and got a crash course (and rude awakening) on how different playoff hockey is compared to the regular season. Fortunately, after a 6-2 loss, they still have time to make adjustments.
As Linus Ullmark said in his post-game comments: “That’s the beauty of it. It doesn’t matter how you play one game and lose. You can lose 1-0 and it’s still going to be a loss.”
What can Ottawa do to earn a split in Toronto before returning home?
The first and obvious answer is to stay out of the penalty box. You can’t hand Toronto’s lethal power play six opportunities while only getting two of your own and expect to win. And too many of the penalties were taken in the Leafs’ zone. The cross-checks by Ridly Greig and Drake Batherson were particularly unacceptable and poorly timed. Penalties in the offensive zone are unnecessary and momentum killers. That needs to be cleaned up.
Maybe it was a mix of jitters and overexcitement in a new atmosphere. Those are easier problems to fix for Travis Green and his st
The penalty kill, however, had no answer. Three times in Game 1, the Leafs opened their power play by scoring immediately off the faceoff. Some of that is elite skill, but much of it was bad positioning and a lack of readiness. Ottawa had one decent kill where they held possession for most of the time, so they need a better plan (or better execution) if they lose the draw.
Speaking of nerves, the crowd noise in Toronto was a real factor. From up in the stands, the building was shaking all night despite Toronto’s reputation for being one of Canada’s quieter arenas. That definitely wasn’t the case on Sunday night.
Sens captain Brady Tkachuk says the “Brady Sucks” chants didn’t affect him, but the Leafs clearly fed off the energy, and the Senators weren’t quite ready for it. You could see it in body language, missed plays, and guys chasing hits at the expense of their usual structure. When Tim Stutzle leads your team with nine hits, you’re getting away from the style that got you here. Physicality only helps when it’s deployed smartly and within the rules.
When Ottawa cut the deficit to 2-1 in the first, the crowd quieted, and the Senators started to play their game and push back. It’s about staying even-keeled, even under deafening noise and taunts. Game 1 was a valuable lesson in tuning out the noise and staying composed. The Senators failed that first lesson—but they can learn from it.
Let’s be honest—most of Ullmark’s goals-against came off breakaways, penalties, or weird bounces. But he’s paid to make tough saves, and in Game 1, he didn’t. The good news? He’s bounced back from rough nights all season and has the ability to get hot. The Leafs know that .750 save percentage won’t last.
Despite what many Sens fans are calling for on social media, starting rookie Leevi Merilainen is not in the cards. This team goes as far as Ullmark takes them. He got them this far and is signed for the next four years to continue to do that. Yanking him after one–or even two–rough playoff starts would do more harm than good in the short and long term. If Merilainen—or Anton Forsberg—gets a start, the series is probably already unwinnable at that point.
In the other crease, Anthony Stolarz was as good as he had to be, but appeared to be fighting the puck at times. Toronto’s big defense cleared rebounds and gave him clean looks. It’s up to Ottawa’s forwards to get to those hard areas and make life difficult—without taking penalties.
There were positives in Game 1. The Senators outshot the Leafs throughout the game—13-5 in the first period—and were the better team analytically at 5-on-5. Once the penalties started, the wheels came off. Ottawa helped Toronto beat them at that point. Toronto’s elite skill doesn’t need many chances to capitalize. Discipline will be key. In Game 1, the Leafs had it—Ottawa didn’t.
If you care about history, remember Ottawa won Game 1 in both 2002 and 2004 by convincing scores—and lost both series. That’s the big-picture playoff lesson for this young group. It’s not about winning every game—it’s about how you respond to adversity.
Game 2 is a chance to do just that.