Drake Batherson Scores a Pair of Goals As Senators Rally to Defeat Maple Leafs 4-2
The Maple Leafs had a 2-0 lead going into the first intermission, but let the lead slip away in the second and third periods.
If there's one thing that's true about the Ottawa Senators, it's that they always give the Toronto Maple Leafs a tough game.
The Battle of Ontario didn't disappoint on Thursday, giving fans inside Scotiabank Arena theatrics that you don't often see. Plus, it was a big performance from Senators' netminder Joonas Korpisalo.
Going into this matchup, Korpisalo had a career .947 save percentage in 14 games against the Maple Leafs, regular season and playoffs combined. And again, on Thursday, he stood tall for Ottawa.
Though it didn't appear that way early on.
Auston Matthews fired a shot on goal, which went off Matthew Knies' toe and past Korpisalo nearly six minutes into the first period. That was Knies' eighth goal of the year, and 14th point in 30 games this season.
The Maple Leafs debuted a brand-new goal song, given it was their Next Generation game. It was '2U (Feat. Justin Bieber) [Afrojack Remix] by David Guetta, credit to colleague David Alter for the find.
And the song was so good, we got to hear it twice in the span of one minute.
23 seconds after Knies' goal, Morgan Rielly threw the puck in front and Tyler Bertuzzi put it into the net for his sixth goal of the season.
Getting an assist, too, on the goal was William Nylander. He continues another red-hot streak in where he has a point in 12-straight games. During that span, the 27-year-old has 19 points (four goals, 19 assists). Nylander is averaging nearly an assist per game this year.
The Maple Leafs were the more dominant team in the opening period, going to the dressing room with a 62.78 xGF% in the period, per NaturalStatTrick.com. The second period was a bit similar though this time Ottawa capitalized on their chances.
First, it was Parker Kelly scoring while the Senators were on the penalty kill. Toronto allowed a two-on-one which allowed Ottawa the scoring opportunity.
Just over four minutes later, Drake Batherson would tie the game with a rebound goal off a shot from Tim Stutzle.
The Maple Leafs entered the second intermission with a 44.49 xGF% in the frame, according to NaturalStatTrick.com. Ottawa had a 55.51 xGF% in the second period.
Since it was the Next Generation game, the Maple Leafs had several celebrities in attendance, including Justin and Hailey Bieber. The singer/songwriter collaborated with the team to make 'The Flipside' jerseys back in March 2022.
For the Maple Leafs, though, things would go from bad to worse in the third period. When the ice began tilting in Ottawa's favour, there was a sense that they would find the back of the net again.
And they did.
Batherson had some luck on his side as the puck bounced off Jones' shoulder and rolled into the net, giving Ottawa the 3-2 lead over Toronto.
Toronto would push in the third period getting several chances in the Senators' crease and just missing the back of the net.
Brady Tkachuk would add an empty netter and Korpisalo would finish the game making 34 of 36 saves against as the Maple Leafs give up a 2-0 lead and fall to the Senators 4-2.
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