After another back-and-forth affair, the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/combinations">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> took a 3-0 series lead over the Ottawa Senators Thursday night following a second consecutive 3-2 overtime win.
Holding the Senators to just two goals through all three games in the series so far, Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz has no doubt been a star for the team, now riding an eleven-game winning streak, including the regular season. Speaking after Thursday&#8217;s win, Toronto&#8217;s netminder was quick to credit his defence in helping fend off Ottawa&#8217;s attack.
&#8220;I think our attention to detail in the defensive zone has been extremely disciplined, extremely detailed,&#8221; Stolarz said. &#8220;I think, what, they had two shots, three shots in the third period again, so kudos to the guys.&#8221;
Over the last two games, Toronto&#8217;s blue line has managed to hold the Senators to only six total shots on goal in both third periods. And despite Ottawa pulling off a third period goal in both contests, it proved to be a crucial effort nonentheless in forcing overtime, where the Leafs put it away both nights.
While Stolarz has been a difference maker for Toronto in the postseason so far, Ottawa&#8217;s tying goal in the third Thursday was clearly one Stolarz would have liked to have back, as Tkachuk tucked an easy one short side.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
&quot;Brady&quot; chants are back after he finds the net 🗣️ <a href="https://t.co/ipNmSgvpwT">pic.twitter.com/ipNmSgvpwT</a>
&mdash; B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) <a href="https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1915579108773216268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
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After the game, Stolarz wasn&#8217;t shy to admit it wasn&#8217;t his best effort, but spoke about his team&#8217;s support and how he jumped right back in it.
&#8220;That was a tough one for me to give up,&#8221; Stolarz said. &#8220;But it&#8217;s a great thing about playoff hockey, you got 19 other guys out there who are there to pick you up, and I kind of knew after that I was gonna be dialled, and next shot I was just gonna be ready for.&#8221;
With the win, the Leafs now hold a 3-0 series lead, one away from putting the Senators away. Regardless, Stolarz says now is not the time to get comfortable.
&#8220;Obviously, we put ourselves in a good position, but that fourth game is always the hardest,&#8221; the 31-year-old netminder said. &#8220;Tonight was a hard-fought battle, you know, for us to come out on top is huge. We put ourselves in a good position, but we can&#8217;t be complacent.&#8221;
Game 4 kicks off Saturday night as the Leafs will search for the series sweep in Ottawa.
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After another back-and-forth affair, the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/combinations">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> took a 3-0 series lead over the Ottawa Senators Thursday night following a second consecutive 3-2 overtime win.

Holding the Senators to just two goals through all three games in the series so far, Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz has no doubt been a star for the team, now riding an eleven-game winning streak, including the regular season. Speaking after Thursday's win, Toronto's netminder was quick to credit his defence in helping fend off Ottawa's attack.

"I think our attention to detail in the defensive zone has been extremely disciplined, extremely detailed," Stolarz said. "I think, what, they had two shots, three shots in the third period again, so kudos to the guys."

Over the last two games, Toronto's blue line has managed to hold the Senators to only six total shots on goal in both third periods. And despite Ottawa pulling off a third period goal in both contests, it proved to be a crucial effort nonentheless in forcing overtime, where the Leafs put it away both nights.

While Stolarz has been a difference maker for Toronto in the postseason so far, Ottawa's tying goal in the third Thursday was clearly one Stolarz would have liked to have back, as Tkachuk tucked an easy one short side.

https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1915579108773216268

After the game, Stolarz wasn't shy to admit it wasn't his best effort, but spoke about his team's support and how he jumped right back in it.

"That was a tough one for me to give up," Stolarz said. "But it's a great thing about playoff hockey, you got 19 other guys out there who are there to pick you up, and I kind of knew after that I was gonna be dialled, and next shot I was just gonna be ready for."

With the win, the Leafs now hold a 3-0 series lead, one away from putting the Senators away. Regardless, Stolarz says now is not the time to get comfortable.

"Obviously, we put ourselves in a good position, but that fourth game is always the hardest," the 31-year-old netminder said. "Tonight was a hard-fought battle, you know, for us to come out on top is huge. We put ourselves in a good position, but we can't be complacent."

Game 4 kicks off Saturday night as the Leafs will search for the series sweep in Ottawa.

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