Senators confident heading into Battle of Ontario with Maple Leafs

OTTAWA — Sometimes, waiting is more rewarding than instant gratification.

After a 21-year hiatus, hockey fans in Canada's largest province are finally getting another Battle of Ontario in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“It’s going to be fun,” Ottawa Senators coach Travis Green said. “It’s going to be an intense series. Going to be a lot of emotions for both cities. Really, it’s everything you want in a playoff series. Players are going to love it and fans are going to love it."

The series will be a matchup between playoff newbies in the Senators, who are in the post-season for the first time in eight years, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, who hold the longest active playoff streak but have just one series win in that time.

The Maple Leafs are led by stars such as Auston Mathews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander, all of whom have some of the deepest playoff scars you might ever encounter. Meanwhile, the Senators have young, energetic stars like Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson, who don’t have any playoff baggage.

A dichotomous situation that should lead to a playoff dogfight.

Green was on the other side of the rivalry in the early 2000s, donning the Blue and White when Toronto and Ottawa faced off in four playoff clashes in a five-season span.

Green echoed the fans after finding out Ottawa's opponent would be Toronto following the Senators' 4-3 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.

"Exciting is probably downplaying it a little bit,” Green said.

One man is confident in his team.

“I know we've had hard luck in the Battle of Ontario, but they've got a new owner right now,” said Senators owner Michael Andlauer on the TSN broadcast on Tuesday.

His investment in the team has changed Ottawa's trajectory from basement dwellers to playoff contenders by allowing general manager Steve Staios to add important playoff-tested veterans in David Perron, Nick Cousins, Michael Amadio and Linus Ullmark. Each of them will be vital to Ottawa's chances and provide support for the club's inexperienced stars. This could be just the start of another wave in the rivalry between Ontario foes.

Since the last series between the Senators and Maple Leafs in 2004, the two teams have made the playoffs in the same season on only two occasions.

But there has still been some turmoil between the teams. Last season, Ridly Greig’s empty net slapshot goal offended Morgan Rielly, and the veteran defenceman took exception with a cross-check to Greig's head, leading to a suspension. This series will have that same emotion and vitriol but cranked up to the nth degree.

The teams have been nearly even over the last eight years while the Senators have been rebuilding. Since the start of the 2017-18 season, the Senators are 17-14-4 against the Maple Leafs but have won the last five meetings dating back to December 2023. You shouldn't glean too much into regular-season matchups, though Ottawa seems to have Toronto's number.

“It’s my third year now, and I think those are my favourite games to play against Toronto,” Jake Sanderson said of the rivalry earlier this week. “Even at home, and they have a ton of fans in our rink, you don't love it, but at the same time, you love to beat them and keep those fans quiet.”

Many Senators fans quiver at the sight of Maple Leafs faithful invading the Canadian Tire Centre as they have for years. That split in the stands will factor into the drama and intrigue.

Go around the Senators' locker room and give the players some truth serum, and I’d imagine many of them are champing at the bit to take down their glitzy rivals from southern Ontario.

We won't delve into a full preview of the series now. Nonetheless, Ottawa’s key will be Ullmark playing at a Vezina level and the team's forward depth winning over Toronto's. Specifically, whether or not Shane Pinto's line can effectively shut down the Maple Leafs' stars.

History shows that Toronto's "Core Four" can struggle to score in the playoffs. The Maple Leafs have only scored more than two goals once in their last 14 playoff games. Ottawa beat Toronto 2-1 earlier this season and that win should be the template in this series. If it’s tight-checking hockey, the Senators should have the edge, in theory. If it’s more of a track meet, then Toronto has the edge in talent.

Experience versus ignorant bliss. Underdog versus Goliath.

It’s showtime.

Tkachuk should sit out season finale

Rest is a weapon.

A familiar tune for the ears of Senators fans who remember head coach Guy Boucher reciting that phrase constantly during the last playoff run in 2017.

For that reason, Ottawa should not allow Brady Tkachuk to play Game 82. The captain has dealt with numerous injuries lately, including sitting out the last seven games with an upper-body injury, and there is nothing at stake in Thursday's game against the Hurricanes.

“We’ll see Thursday”, said Green post-game on whether Tkachuk will suit up against Carolina.

Green has already stated that he expects Tkachuk to play in Game 1 and feels comfortable with Tkachuk heading into the playoffs without playing any regular-season games.

Earlier this week, Tkachuk was asked if he expected to be ready to play for the playoffs.

“I don’t think I’d ever miss an opportunity to play in the playoffs,” he replied.

The Senators' post-season hopes rest on Tkachuk’s health. If he aggravated any injury in the meaningless final game, there would be a very justifiable outcry from the fans.

Who wants to see Tkachuk in the playoffs against Toronto? Everybody.

Sometimes, caution is the best strategy.