In a dramatic Game 3 overtime finish, Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit emerged as the unexpected hero, scoring at 1:19 to secure a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators. The decisive play came off a face-off won by Auston Matthews, whose presence was pivotal throughout the night. The win places Toronto on the verge of sweeping their first-round Eastern Conference series, with Benoit’s moment capping a performance that drew high praise from head coach Craig Berube.
This pivotal win places the Maple Leafs just one step away from sweeping their divisional rivals. Benoit’s goal — a powerful slap shot from the left circle following a face-off win by Auston Matthews — beat Linus Ullmark cleanly and ignited jubilation on the Toronto bench.
Craig Berube, head coach of the Maple Leafs, praised Benoit’s effort, underlining his defensive consistency throughout the season. “It’s always great when a guy like that scores a goal,“ Berube said. “A big goal like that, overtime goal, game-winner. ‘Beny’ has played extremely well for us defensively and being hard to play against and does all of those things. So, it’s nice when guys like that are rewarded with a big goal.”
Matthews, Marner drive Maple Leafs’ offense
Matthews continued his postseason dominance, registering a goal and an assist, while Mitch Marner added two assists to pace the Maple Leafs’ offensive attack. Toronto, the top seed in the Atlantic Division, showcased a balanced approach, combining opportunistic scoring with tight defensive structure. The win brings Toronto’s playoff record to 3-0, and the team appears poised and focused as they pursue a deeper run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Senators left searching for answers
On the other side, Senators head coach Travis Green did not hide his disappointment after the narrow defeat. “There’s not much I’m going to say to them right now that’s going to help or make them feel any better,” Green told the media postgame.
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He added: “It’s disheartening, to say the least. I thought both teams played a hell of a game. And sometimes playoff hockey comes down to little inches or bounces, and we were on the wrong end of it tonight.” Despite a strong push from Ottawa, their inability to close out tight games continues to haunt them in this series.
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What’s next for the Maple Leafs?
With a commanding 3-0 series lead, the Maple Leafs will look to close out the series in Ottawa on Saturday. Consistency and discipline will be key as they aim to punch their ticket to the next round and continue their pursuit of postseason glory.
