The Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs are set for a massive Game 6 on Thursday night. After going down 3-0 in the series, Ottawa has won the last two games to get the set back to Canada's capital. After Game 4, Brady Tkachuk yelled “We'll be back!” while accepting a Star of the Game nod. Before Game 6, Tkachuk spoke about why it was important to get the Senators back in Ottawa for this game.

“This is not just about our team, it's about our city. You can feel the excitement, and we're going to need it tonight,” Tkachuk told TSN's Chris Johnston.

The Senators did not let Game 5's result hang in the balance for very long. They scored the first goal early in the second period and suppressed Toronto's chances for the rest of the game. After Ottawa's poor penalty kill was a storyline early in the series, they killed off three power plays and scored a short-handed goal with their playoff lives on the line.

The Maple Leafs are a deeper team on paper, have higher-end talent, and a Cup-winning coach. But when things start to get murky in the playoffs, all of that goes out the window. Tkachuk and the Senators know the opportunity they have in front of them.

The Senators can send the Maple Leafs spiraling

Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) embraces goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs during game five of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena.
Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Article Continues Below
Related Ottawa Senators News
Ryan Donato, Blackhawks image in the background, question marks around him, ryan Donato, blackhawks, nhl free agency, free agent
3 best Ryan Donato destinations in 2025 NHL free agencyBryan Logan ·
Brandon Tanev in a Maple Leafs Jersey. Maple Leafs logo, questions marks around him, Jets, Brandon Tanev, Free Agent, NHL Free Agency
3 best Brandon Tanev destinations in 2025 NHL free agencyBryan Logan ·
Ottawa Senators right wing Claude Giroux (28) celebrates a goal scored by center Dylan Cozens (24) in the first period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Senators rumors: Ottawa looking to re-sign key pending UFARexwell Villas ·
Steve Staios in middle looking stern, one silhouetted Ottawa Senators player on each side (no C or A on jersey), hockey rink in background
2 Senators trade candidates after Maple Leafs series lossColin Gallant ·
President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Steve Staios speaks to the media pprior to match between the Dallas Stars and the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Senators rumors: Ottawa targeting right-shot defenseman this summerColin Gallant ·
image thumbnail
3 early predictions for Senators offseason after Maple Leafs series lossChristopher Hennessy ·

In their last 14 potential clinching games, the Maple Leafs are 1-13. That one win was in 2023, when they finally got out of the first round by beating the Lightning in six games. They lost Game 5 at home with a chance to clinch the series that year. Toronto hit the road and beat the three-time defending conference champs to theoretically slay the beast.

But when the playoffs started up last year, the Maple Leafs faced the Bruins again in the first round. They went up 3-1 and lost three straight games to lose the series. The Senators do not have the playoff scars that the Maple Leafs do, considering they have not been in the dance since 2017.

The Senators got great goaltending from Linus Ullmark on Tuesday night in Toronto. That was the key to victory for Game 5, and it will have to return for Game 6. He was not great in their first game, a 6-2 loss on the road. But in the four games since, he has been more than good enough for the team to win.

The Senators will have most of the fans behind them. How many Maple Leafs fans will make the trip to Ottawa? We'll find out Thursday night.