The Senators beat the Leafs 3-2 Sunday in part one of a preseason home-and-home with their provincial rivals.

Tim Stutzle has picked up right where he left off last season. 

The Ottawa Senators goal-scoring leader scored twice on Sunday afternoon as the Sens took down the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 at Canadian Tire Centre. It was the 2023 preseason opener for both clubs.

Stutzle potted 39 goals last season, the ninth most in club history, and served notice Sunday he's not likely to take a step back this year.

Preseason or not, that was a phenomenal release.

"I think I'm really confident in my shot," Stutzle said. "I think both shots were pretty good screens in front of the net. I've been working on it a lot to get the puck off quicker, I think that's what I tried doing all summer."

Egor Sokolov didn't draw an assist on the Stutzle goal, but nicely provided a screen and did all the lead up work. If foot speed is the thing keeping Sokolov out of the NHL, it sure didn't show on this shift. It's only preseason, but this is the kind of stuff that gets you on NHL radars.

Brady Tkachuk scored Ottawa's other goal, cramming home a rebound in his office in front of the net. He and Jake Sanderson each had two points for the Senators, while Anton Forsberg made 36 saves in his first game action since a double knee injury in February.

"Obviously, it's been a long road," Forsberg said. "It's lots of emotion coming out there for the national anthem and all that. I'm so happy and grateful that I'm back and feel good, so I'm just going to keep going and enjoy it."

The two clubs will keep going Monday night, completely mixing up their lineups for a preseason rematch in Toronto (7pm, Sportsnet).