Senators Stave Off Elimination with Overtime Win over Maple Leafs

The Ottawa Senators staved off elimination with a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs, extending their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series to a fifth game despite being down 3-0. Young Sens stars like Tim Stützle and Shane Pinto contributed early goals, and veteran leadership from Claude Giroux, who was part of the historic 2010 Flyers reverse-sweep, has provided hope and perspective for Ottawa's underdog squad. Despite Toronto's statistical superiority and their star trio outpacing Ottawa's offensive leaders, the Leafs have a history of struggling to close out playoff series, which leaves the door open for an upset. The Senators' resilience has already injected anxiety into the heavily favored Leafs and allowed Ottawa fans to savor the moment, regardless of the final outcome. As the series continues, the Senators embrace their role as disruptors, while the pressure mounts on Toronto to avoid another playoff letdown.