Maple Leafs Lead Senators 3-0 After Benoit's OT Winner

The Toronto Maple Leafs took a commanding 3-0 lead over the Ottawa Senators in their Stanley Cup Playoff series after a dramatic 3-2 overtime win in Game 3, with defenseman Simon Benoit emerging as the unlikely hero. Benoit, known more for his physical play than scoring, netted his first career playoff goal just 1:19 into overtime, following up his previous game-winning assist in Game 2. The Leafs’ power play has been highly effective, while their defensive structure kept Ottawa's offense largely to the outside, despite strong efforts from Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, who appeared to be playing through injury but managed a crucial late goal. A raucous home crowd in Ottawa could not lift the Senators, who now face elimination and must address their faltering penalty kill and inconsistent offense. The Leafs have relied on contributions from both their stars and depth players, showcasing resilience with back-to-back overtime victories. Toronto is now poised for a potential series sweep, which would mark only their second postseason series win in the past two decades.