OTTAWA — The Battle of Ontario moves east to Ottawa as the Maple Leafs and Senators face off in Game 3 Thursday night.
The Leafs have built a 2-0 lead in the series on the strength of all-world goaltending from Anthony Stolarz and a white-hot power play. But the Senators showed impressive resilience late in Game 2. Surrounded by their own fans — and undoubtedly a healthy contingent of Leafs fans — the Senators have to like their chances of making some noise at five-on-five in the series.
Here’s what we’re watching from Maple Leafs morning skate ahead of Game 3 — including a lineup change on the third line with Max Pacioretty replacing Nick Robertson.
The likely lines
Knies — Matthews — Marner
Holmberg — Tavares — Nylander
McMann — Domi — Pacioretty
Lorentz — Laughton — Järnkrok
McCabe–Tanev
Rielly–Carlo
Benoit–Ekman-Larsson
Analysis: In the end, Leafs coach Craig Berube decided a change was in order for Game 3. In comes Pacioretty. Out goes Robertson. Pacioretty will be playing for the first time since Feb. 8. Salary-cap limitations, plus an injury after the 4 Nations Face-Off, kept the Leafs from re-inserting him into the lineup down the stretch. It remains to be seen how much he’ll be able to give the Leafs after such a long layoff, coupled with the fact that he’s 36. At minimum, Pacioretty should be able to deliver some physical punch and experience, and maybe the odd bit of offence. He lines up on a third line with Bobby McMann and Max Domi and will also join the No. 2 power-play unit. A costly penalty in Game 2, along with the fact that he’s produced only a single shot and no goals in two games, knocked Robertson out. — Siegel
Advertisement
The big questions
Can the Leafs power play stay hot?
Four of the Leafs nine goals through two games have come with the man advantage. Their power play is firing at a 57 percent clip. That’s wildly impressive, and a departure from past playoff runs when the team’s lack of execution on the power play sunk them. Can the five-forward top unit keep firing on all cylinders? If they do, the Senators chances of clawing back in this series remain slim. — Kloke
Will Anthony Stolarz continue to crush Linus Ullmark in goal?
The numbers tell the story here: Stolarz has surrendered only four goals on 61 shots in two games for a toasty .934 save percentage. Ullmark, conversely, has given up nine goals on just 45 shots for a save percentage of — yikes — .800. If that keeps up, this series won’t last long. — Siegel
What impact will Max Pacioretty make?
The veteran forward’s 78 playoff games and 25 postseason goals can’t be discounted. That’s experience many Leafs forwards just don’t have. And for coach Craig Berube, experience matters. There’s an inherent trust level he has in veterans of Pacioretty’s pedigree. But after a long layoff, how much will Pacioretty’s experience translate? His job with the Leafs is throwing his weight around. That won’t be easy to do if you’re shaking off the rust at the same time. — Kloke
Pre-game reading
• Another big question heading into Game 3: Will Leafs fans find a way to take over Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata? The Senators and their fans took steps in an attempt to keep that from happening. We’ll see (and hear) tonight whether those efforts paid off.
• Ridly Greig has played the villain through two games of this series. We explore his origin story — and his softer side.
• Max Domi got his Leafs legacy moment in Game 2 OT. How he worked all year to get here.
• The Leafs are winning ugly. Should it be a surprise? James Mirtle says ‘no.’
How to watch
The puck drops in Ottawa at 7 p.m. ET. (SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS, ESPN2)
(Photo of Max Pacioretty and Nick Robertson: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images )
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
7ª rodada do Brasileirão Feminino tem Ferroviária e Cruzeiro empatados na liderança e empates nos clássicos
Resumo da 7ª rodada do Brasileirão Feminino (Reprodução/Flickr/CBF) A 7ª rodada do Brasileirão Feminino foi cheio de emoções, tendo oito partidas com muitos gols e reviravoltas. Enquanto que a parte de cima da tabela teve mudanças, a zona de rebaixamento continua sem ter alterações. Entre os principais destaques, está a vitória da Ferroviária, que venceu um adversário direto na parte de cima da tabela, o Palmeiras, fora de casa. Além disso, tivemos a grande vitória do Bahia, entrou no G8 e promete brigar por uma vaga na próxima fase da competição. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Veja como foram os jogos da 7ª rodada do Brasileirão Feminino Cruzeiro 2 x 1 Bragantino Jogando em casa, o Cruzeiro enfrentou o Red Bull Bragantino em busca de permanecer na liderança da competição. Com gols de Stella contra e Leticia Ferreira, a raposa venceu as bragantinas […]
Astros’ Jose Altuve asks to move out of leadoff spot for more time to prepare after playing left field
For the first time in nearly two years, Jose Altuve did not bat in the leadoff spot when the Houston Astros played the Detroit Tigers on Monday.The 15-year veteran requested the change, according to Astros manager Joe Espada. And he did so because of his move to left field this season."I just told Joe that maybe he can hit me second some games at some point and he did it today,” Altuve explained, via the Associated Press. “I just need like that little extra time to come from left field, and he decided to put Jeremy [Peña] there.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPeña, Houston's shortstop, has the second-best on-base percentage on the team at .327. Only third baseman Isaac Paredes, who bats fourth, is better at .342. Altuve's OBP is .310, down from his career mark of .362.“I just need like 10 more seconds,” Altuve […]
NBA playoffs takeaways: Cavs sweep Heat, handing Miami another record defeat
On Saturday, the Miami Heat experienced their worst-ever loss in the postseason, dropping Game 3 to the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-87. It only took two days to beat that record. The Heat lost 138-83 to the Cavaliers in Miami on Monday night, as Cleveland completed a 4-0 sweep to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.AdvertisementCleveland took hold of the game from the outset and never let go, leading Miami 72-31 at halftime. To further put that final score in perspective, the Cavaliers shot 54.7 percent from the field compared to the Heat’s 36 percent.Miami played Monday’s game without Kevin Love, whose father, former NBA player Stan Love, died this week at 76.The Cavaliers will play the winner of the series between Indiana and Milwaukee, which the Pacers lead 3-1.Cavaliers 138, Heat 83(Cavaliers win series 4-0)Cleveland dominates without Darius GarlandAt one point, […]
Cavs sweep Heat and complete the most lopsided series in NBA playoff history
<!--> Cleveland left no doubt on its way to Round 2 — and finished off the most lopsided series in NBA playoff history.Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points, De’Andre Hunter added 19 and the Cavaliers rolled past the Miami Heat 138-83 on Monday night to sweep their Eastern Conference first-round series in four games.Ty Jerome had 18 points, Evan Mobley added 17 and Jarrett Allen had 14 points, 12 rebounds and six steals for the Cavaliers — who led by as many as 60 points.Cleveland won the four games by a combined 122 points. The previous record: a 121-point combined win by Denver over New Orleans in 2009.ADVERTISEMENT -->The 55-point margin in Game 4 was the fourth-biggest playoff win ever. The record for biggest playoff win is 58 points, done twice: Minneapolis over St. Louis in 1956 and Denver over New […]
2025 NBA playoff bracket: First-round matchups, schedule, game times as Cavaliers join Thunder in second round
Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports The 2025 NBA playoffs are in full swing, and the Cleveland Cavaliers joined the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round on Monday night. The Cavs finished off a sweep of the Miami Heat in Game 4, matching their top-seeded West counterpart after OKC swept the Memphis Grizzlies. To close out Monday's schedule, the Golden State Warriors have a chance to take a commanding series lead against the Houston Rockets.Four teams went up 3-1 in their series on Sunday: the Knicks, Timberwolves, Celtics and Pacers were all Game 4 winners, respectively putting the Pistons, Lakers, Magic and Bucks on the brink of elimination.The only series that is tied entering Monday's action is Clippers vs. Nuggets as the two teams have split the first four games of an evenly matched series in the West. The winner of that […]
Heat Culture is finally starting to show cracks, so what’s next for Miami after getting swept by the Cavs?
Getty Images The San Antonio Spurs were the picture of NBA stability for the better part of 20 years. Then Tim Duncan retired. Within two years, LaMarcus Aldridge had attempted to force a trade and Kawhi Leonard actually succeeded in doing so. The Spurs are only now emerging from the mediocrity that followed, and the biggest reason they've done so is not some internal recalibration, but a few lucky ping pong balls on lottery night. NBA team cultures are fickle. The league changes quickly. If you're standing still, you're probably moving backward.Which brings us to the Miami Heat, a team so confident in its culture that in 2023 it literally started wearing a jersey with the words "Heat Culture" embroidered on the chest. For three decades or so, Heat Culture was nearly impenetrable. The Pat Riley era has included more […]
Related
7ª rodada do Brasileirão Feminino tem Ferroviária e Cruzeiro empatados na liderança e empates nos clássicos
Resumo da 7ª rodada do Brasileirão Feminino (Reprodução/Flickr/CBF) A 7ª rodada do Brasileirão Feminino foi cheio de emoções, tendo oito partidas com muitos gols e reviravoltas. Enquanto que a parte de cima da tabela teve mudanças, a zona de rebaixamento continua sem ter alterações. Entre os principais destaques, está a vitória da Ferroviária, que venceu um adversário direto na parte de cima da tabela, o Palmeiras, fora de casa. Além disso, tivemos a grande vitória do Bahia, entrou no G8 e promete brigar por uma vaga na próxima fase da competição. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Veja como foram os jogos da 7ª rodada do Brasileirão Feminino Cruzeiro 2 x 1 Bragantino Jogando em casa, o Cruzeiro enfrentou o Red Bull Bragantino em busca de permanecer na liderança da competição. Com gols de Stella contra e Leticia Ferreira, a raposa venceu as bragantinas […]
Astros’ Jose Altuve asks to move out of leadoff spot for more time to prepare after playing left field
For the first time in nearly two years, Jose Altuve did not bat in the leadoff spot when the Houston Astros played the Detroit Tigers on Monday.The 15-year veteran requested the change, according to Astros manager Joe Espada. And he did so because of his move to left field this season."I just told Joe that maybe he can hit me second some games at some point and he did it today,” Altuve explained, via the Associated Press. “I just need like that little extra time to come from left field, and he decided to put Jeremy [Peña] there.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPeña, Houston's shortstop, has the second-best on-base percentage on the team at .327. Only third baseman Isaac Paredes, who bats fourth, is better at .342. Altuve's OBP is .310, down from his career mark of .362.“I just need like 10 more seconds,” Altuve […]
NBA playoffs takeaways: Cavs sweep Heat, handing Miami another record defeat
On Saturday, the Miami Heat experienced their worst-ever loss in the postseason, dropping Game 3 to the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-87. It only took two days to beat that record. The Heat lost 138-83 to the Cavaliers in Miami on Monday night, as Cleveland completed a 4-0 sweep to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.AdvertisementCleveland took hold of the game from the outset and never let go, leading Miami 72-31 at halftime. To further put that final score in perspective, the Cavaliers shot 54.7 percent from the field compared to the Heat’s 36 percent.Miami played Monday’s game without Kevin Love, whose father, former NBA player Stan Love, died this week at 76.The Cavaliers will play the winner of the series between Indiana and Milwaukee, which the Pacers lead 3-1.Cavaliers 138, Heat 83(Cavaliers win series 4-0)Cleveland dominates without Darius GarlandAt one point, […]
Cavs sweep Heat and complete the most lopsided series in NBA playoff history
<!--> Cleveland left no doubt on its way to Round 2 — and finished off the most lopsided series in NBA playoff history.Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points, De’Andre Hunter added 19 and the Cavaliers rolled past the Miami Heat 138-83 on Monday night to sweep their Eastern Conference first-round series in four games.Ty Jerome had 18 points, Evan Mobley added 17 and Jarrett Allen had 14 points, 12 rebounds and six steals for the Cavaliers — who led by as many as 60 points.Cleveland won the four games by a combined 122 points. The previous record: a 121-point combined win by Denver over New Orleans in 2009.ADVERTISEMENT -->The 55-point margin in Game 4 was the fourth-biggest playoff win ever. The record for biggest playoff win is 58 points, done twice: Minneapolis over St. Louis in 1956 and Denver over New […]
2025 NBA playoff bracket: First-round matchups, schedule, game times as Cavaliers join Thunder in second round
Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports The 2025 NBA playoffs are in full swing, and the Cleveland Cavaliers joined the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round on Monday night. The Cavs finished off a sweep of the Miami Heat in Game 4, matching their top-seeded West counterpart after OKC swept the Memphis Grizzlies. To close out Monday's schedule, the Golden State Warriors have a chance to take a commanding series lead against the Houston Rockets.Four teams went up 3-1 in their series on Sunday: the Knicks, Timberwolves, Celtics and Pacers were all Game 4 winners, respectively putting the Pistons, Lakers, Magic and Bucks on the brink of elimination.The only series that is tied entering Monday's action is Clippers vs. Nuggets as the two teams have split the first four games of an evenly matched series in the West. The winner of that […]
Heat Culture is finally starting to show cracks, so what’s next for Miami after getting swept by the Cavs?
Getty Images The San Antonio Spurs were the picture of NBA stability for the better part of 20 years. Then Tim Duncan retired. Within two years, LaMarcus Aldridge had attempted to force a trade and Kawhi Leonard actually succeeded in doing so. The Spurs are only now emerging from the mediocrity that followed, and the biggest reason they've done so is not some internal recalibration, but a few lucky ping pong balls on lottery night. NBA team cultures are fickle. The league changes quickly. If you're standing still, you're probably moving backward.Which brings us to the Miami Heat, a team so confident in its culture that in 2023 it literally started wearing a jersey with the words "Heat Culture" embroidered on the chest. For three decades or so, Heat Culture was nearly impenetrable. The Pat Riley era has included more […]
Be the first to leave a comment