LEAF TAKEWAYS: Playoff power play goals are back in fashion

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The Maple Leafs are highly unlikely to get a hat trick of power plays every night in this series.

But from a 1-for-21 no-show in the Boston series last year and early season scrutiny of new architect Marc Savard’s plan, Toronto’s potential with its five-forward flush was hands down the difference in Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators.

John Tavares from William Nylander, Nylander from Tavares, then Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner setting up Matthew Knies accounted for half Toronto’s offence.

“Our quick plays off the draw,” was Marner’s assessment of what was clicking. “Willy walked one off, he found Johnny on a high tip and then Kniesy made a great play on my shot that Auston bumped back to him.

“A good start, but we have to find a way to get better.’

Berube praise an 0-for-2 penalty kill as well as the discipline that landed the over-eager Senators in the box so often in what was the first playoff game for many of them.

“Our power play has been rolling for awhile, but to me it’s about getting pucks to the net with numbers,” the coach said. “I can’t say enough about Knies and J.T. in those areas. They’ve done an extremely good job with all their work in the interior of the ice.”

OEL ALL IN

The last goal by a Leaf in the Battle of Ontario of 2004 was by a defenceman and Toronto’s first of the 2025 playoffs was also by a blueliner. It was significant that Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s was set up by two fourth liners as well.

“It’s always fun to score and in the playoffs to chip in,” said Ekman-Larsson, who had four regular season goals and two last spring as a member of the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Coach Craig Berube, in welcoming back Ekman-Larsson from a few games away with injury at the end of the schedule, noted he can supply important goals.

His strike, with Scott Laughton spotting him jumping into the slot, certainly pushed the needle in an already hopped-up Scotiabank Arena.

“We got a win tonight, but we move on. It will get tougher,” Ekman-Larsson said.

Morgan Rielly also scored for the blueline brigade, off a deflection.

LEAN GAME FOR GREEN

The first playoff game for Senators captain Brady Tkachuk and the first for coach Travis Green as Ottawa’s coach went south in the second period when the Sens lost their composure.

Other than Drake Batherson knocking a loose puck in that had hopped over Anthony Stolarz’s goal stick in the opening frame, Ottawa fell behind 4-1.

Tkachuk was not really a factor after failing to bury a breakaway that could’ve tied it 2-2, but ended the night with five shots and seven hits. Green took solace in his club’s 5-on-5 play, but netminder Linus Ullmark did give up three there, too.

“I liked our (even-strength) game,” Green insisted. “Maybe the first five or 10 minutes we were a little nervous, which is to be expected.

“We definitely have to stay out of the box (the Leafs had mentioned earlier that watching the officiating standard in Saturday night’s Western Conference openers was helpful). I thought there was a couple of calls they (Leafs) did a good job selling. It’s tough on the refs.”

Green came to the defence of Ullmark, who was a big part of the turnaround this season, noting he was a Vezina Trophy winner in 2023 for Boston.

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LOOSE LEAFS

Knies was credited with a couple of painful shot blocks, his goal coming right after bullet in his lower arm … Matthews became the 13th Leaf to achieve at least 50 playoff points with his two assists, while Marner’s goal and helper moved him past Bob Pulford for 11th in franchise history with 52. Nylander tied Ian Turnbull for 16th with 45, Rielly knotted Tim Horton for 18th with 41 … Tavares won 13 of 21 draws in Game 1 … The Leafs have called up Marlie Artur Akhtyamov as their third goalie in case of emergency.

lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby