GOAL: Claude Giroux opens scoring
Follow live coverage of tonight's Game 3 as the Battle of Ontario shifts to Ottawa with the Leafs up 2-0 on the Senators
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators are going to overtime of Game 3 in their first-round playoff series. Watch: ESPN2 (U.S.) | Sportsnet/CBC (Canada)
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P2 18:22 - Senators 1, Maple Leafs 0
Ridly Greig goads William Nylander into taking an offensive zone tripping penalty, setting a pick by stepping in front of the Senators forward to give Ottawa a five-on-three power play. The Senators promptly score with Claude Giroux beating a screened Anthony Stolarz. Huge goal.
P2 19:45 - Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
William Nylander takes a tripping penalty. It's a five-on-three penalty for the Ottawa Senators.
P2 20:00 - Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
The Maple Leafs and Senators begin the second period of Game 3. Four-on-four action and then an Ottawa powerplay.
Not too long now until the second period of tonight's Game 3. There will be four-on-four hockey to start the period.
Getty Images Dom M.: McMann with 7 hits that period is great to see. Like that line tonight.
McMann with 7 hits that period is great to see. Like that line tonight. John M.: Bad penalty by Knies.
Bad penalty by Knies. Brent S.: Love it when Willy gets physical.
Love it when Willy gets physical. Alex B.: Playoff Nylander is an animal.
Getty Images
Shots:
Hits:
Faceoffs won:
Blocked shots:
Leafs forward Matthew Knies took a penalty at 20:00 of the first period for cross-checking Ridly Greig deep in the offensive zone. Earlier this series, Knies told reporters "it is definitely annoying" watching Greig's on-ice antics. Score another one for the Senators irritant.
Read more below about Greig becoming the "villain" of this series.
GO FURTHER
'Little rat': How Senators' quiet pest Ridly Greig became a hockey villain
P1 0:00 - Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
After one period, the Maple Leafs and Senators are 0-0. At the end of the period, Matthew Knies takes a cross-checking penalty.
There will be four-on-four hockey to start the second period.
P1 1:18 - Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
The Maple Leafs head to the powerplay after the Brady Tkachuk penalty. Toronto has four PP goals this series.
P1 3:51 - Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
Got to admit, I was a little bit surprised William Nylander elected to unleash a slap shot rather than going towards the net on that breakaway chance.
Linus Ullmark easily makes the save. Nylander smiles afterward.
Still 0-0 under four to play in the first period.
P1 4:01 - Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
Bobby McMann can't quite tip the puck into the back of the net. Linus Ullmark makes the save.
The third line looks a lot more energetic and active tonight.
P1 5:28 - Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
Five minutes left in the first period. Still a 0-0 game.
Mitch Marner is showing defensive prowess in his own zone, checking Shane Pinto along the boards, which results in a turnover.
The Leafs defensive play continues to shine.
P1 7:24 - Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
It's Linus Ullmark's turn to make a big save. John Tavares in the high slot fires a wrist shot that Ullmark gobbles up.
Still a 0-0 game. Both goalies playing well so far.
Tim Stützle just had one of the best looks the Senators have created all series, coming off the bench and taking a Drake Batherson pass while skating into the slot. However, Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz came out to the top of his crease to swallow up the Stützle shot. Stolarz is looming large over this series so far.
P1 8:50 - Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
The best chance of the game belongs to Tim Stützle. He comes through the slot and fires a wrist shot that's denied by Anthony Stolarz.
The Maple Leafs goalie is standing tall. It's still a 0-0 game.
P1 10:31 - Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
Dylan Cozens fires a wrist shot that's stopped by Anthony Stolarz. It's 0-0 at the first TV timeout of the game.
Take a breather, hockey fans. A fun start to Game 3 with end-to-end action.
P1 13:02 - Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
John Tavares steps back onto the ice. Toronto successfully kills the Ottawa powerplay.
Not many Grade A chances for the Senators on that powerplay opportunity.
P1 14:11 - Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
Mitch Marner's effective penalty killing is on display again. He deflects a Brady Tkachuk pass out of the zone, showcasing his active stick.
P1 15:04 - Maple Leafs 0, Senators 0
Brady Tkachuk draws the penalty on four-on-four, courtesy of John Tavares.
It's now four-on-three for 43 seconds. Big opportunity for Ottawa.
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New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Mitch Marner's next contract and the burden of expectations
There is an interesting psychological phenomenon in sports fandom where satisfaction often hinges on expectations rather than actual performance. In a hard cap world where the dollar figure attached to a player is of the utmost importance, that experience can be put in overdrive. It's the burden of expectations and Mitch Marner might be hockey's best current example. Advertisement Here's an example of what that means. Take two players: Player A is a fourth-liner and Player B is an elite player. Over a seven-game stretch, Player A looks like a third-liner and Player B looks like a first-liner — who are fans happier with? Nine times out of 10, even if Player B was unquestionably better than Player A, fans are often happier with Player A because he played better than expected. It's the feeling of surprise vs. disappointment that often supersedes the actual performance difference between the two. With that in mind, I have some empathy for the way Marner's playoff performances with the Toronto Maple Leafs have been viewed. That's in the sense that he generally has been one of the team's best players each playoffs, but he just hasn't been his usual level of good — especially offensively. There is a substantial drop-off in his playoff offensive rating vs. his expectations — one of the league's 10 worst 'offensive dawgs' over the last five years, in fact, and that skews the perception of his actual performance. That Marner has been one of the playoffs' best defensive dawgs (his already-good Defensive Rating jumps by the third-most of any forward to play 41 or more playoff games over the last five years) is often ignored as well. Whether that's how Toronto's superstars should be used — as shutdown specialists — is worthy of scrutiny, but Marner's likely frustration is understandable through this lens. Marner is doing the 'defense wins championships' stuff that is often viewed as necessary to win and following the lore of Steve Yzerman sacrificing offense for defense. It just hasn't worked for the Maple Leafs. One of the reasons for that is the Leafs have not been able to adequately create offensive depth behind their superstars, due partly to the cap constraints of said superstars. Marner may be sacrificing offense for defense (and arguably too much of it), but he didn't sacrifice anything on his paycheck the way many other winning superstars have. And that's where the burden of expectations is magnified further — and where there's a lot less empathy for the perception around Marner in particular. If Marner is getting paid to do it all, and he's not doing one of the things he's paid for at that level, and his team doesn't have cap space to make up for it, that's a problem created by Marner. Advertisement Marner didn't ask for the level of vitriol spewed in his direction, nor does he deserve the extremes reached after this postseason. But there's a good reason why he is often the lightning rod for criticism among the team's core, an entirely self-inflicted one given his last contract standoff. While some of it is beyond unacceptable, a lot of the pointed criticism of his play is fair game. When a player demands more than his closest peer (Mikko Rantanen, signed for $9.25 million over six years in the same offseason) and his closest comparable (Patrick Kane signed for the 2019-20 equivalent of $9 million over five years) by a substantial margin, he is setting a higher standard for himself. It's a standard fans will hold him accountable to. To Marner's credit, it's a standard he reached during the regular season, and that does matter. He played like an $11 million player (or more) in each of the six years of his contract, often looking like one of the league's best forwards. If all you care about is the regular season, Marner lived up to his big-ticket contract, scoring at a 102-point pace over his six-year deal with four straight seasons over a 100-point pace. That he reached such a high regular-season level is also what made it so disappointing when he struggled to get there when it really mattered, especially offensively. That part of Marner's game is what got him the big bucks, not his defensive game, and its disappearance in big games was hard for many fans to stomach. Marner earning $1.5-2 million more than he should've as an RFA is money that could've been spent to help bolster Toronto's offensive firepower. Because it went to Marner instead, it's on Marner to be able to deliver to that level when it counts to make up for the team's depth sacrifice. It's an unfairly high bar considering what's asked of Marner defensively at the top of the lineup, but it's one he signed up for. It's what he was paid for. It's a bar other superstars have had less trouble reaching. Advertisement That Marner couldn't creates double the disappointment: he wasn't as good as his regular-season self and he wasn't as good as his contract. The latter adds more fuel to the fire. It's a pressurized loop that was arguably of Marner's own making, one that spun harsher with each playoff performance below expectations. Had Marner originally opted for a deal closer to his RFA value in line with his peers, I do not doubt the high expectations placed on him would be lessened significantly. There would be some disappointment, sure, but much less of it would be tied to how much of the salary cap Marner takes up — especially considering the way it was negotiated. That eased burden may have even had a positive effect on Marner's game. Which brings us to the main topic at hand: Marner's next contract, where it seems as if the winger's camp has not learned any lessons over the last six years. Again, Marner's closest comparable is Rantanen, who just signed for $12 million over eight years with the Stars. That's a comparison that will likely follow Marner for his entire contract, especially given Rantanen's knack for elevating his game when it matters — a quality Marner lacks. Regardless of the difference in dawg, that number is close to what's arguably fair for a player as valuable as Marner: $12.5 million. That was roughly what I had for Marner's next deal the last time I wrote about it and it's what I have again going into free agency. It's in the ballpark of what AFP Analytics projects ($13.0 million over seven years) and Evolving Hockey ($12.7 million over seven years). It's also in line with what David Pastrnak, a better winger than Marner at the time, signed for (equivalent of $12.9 million over eight years) in 2023. There are a lot of signs pointing to $13 million being the line in the sand between a good and bad deal for Marner. And I'd argue that line should be closer to $12.5 million. But just like his first contract negotiation, it seems as if Marner's camp is posturing for more than he's worth after factoring for aging and cap growth. Credit where credit is due: Marner's camp is using all the leverage he has to get one of the NHL's richest contracts, and all the power to him if he gets it. If Marner's top priority is securing the bag above all else, his camp is doing a fantastic job of negotiating through the media, anchoring and conditioning the public to a huge number that will likely make that quest successful. (Or to paint what's actually fair as a 'discount' to reframe Marner's narrative.) Advertisement It would not be a shock if there was a bidding war on July 1 that got Marner's number up to $13.5 million or even $14 million. It should be noted, too, that $13.5 million is in line with Artemi Panarin's percentage of cap hit six years ago. If that is where Marner's top priority lies, it would create another situation similar to the one he was just in; one that will invite intense scrutiny of his play relative to the size of his contract. It'll be less vociferous in a smaller and quieter market, but it'll still exist to some degree if Marner's sole goal is winning the most money. If his top priority is to win a Stanley Cup, taking less on a team-friendly deal is something Marner should consider — especially if the criticism of his play has bothered him as much as speculated. It's his best avenue to reset expectations, relieve pressure and change his narrative. (And if it's a hometown discount for Toronto, it's also a way for Marner to help repair a fraught relationship with the fan base.) Taking less to win is not a new concept. It's something many of the league's best players (Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Nikita Kucherov) have done in order to help get their team over the hump. It's also the exact strategy that stood in Toronto's way of the conference final this season with Florida's core all making substantially less than their collective worth. Some of that is a result of no-state tax, yes, but I'd reckon a much larger part is a team-wide understanding of what it takes to win — and the cost of it. That's a domino effect that started at the top with Aleksander Barkov. It's culture more than taxes. It also helps shield the stars from the burden of expectations that a high dollar figure demands. There would likely be a lot more noise (relative to market size, of course) around Sam Reinhart scoring at a 56-point pace over the last three Stanley Cup Final runs (but elevating his game defensively like Marner) if he was making closer to his true value. Having a Cup ring helps, but this year's four goals in 17 playoff games would be a lot more harrowing if he was making $11.5 million instead of $8.6 million, a discount that helped the Panthers afford Brad Marchand, who helps make up the difference. It's a two-pronged effect because there's also less noise the further a team goes, something a hometown discount makes more likely. That's not a luxury the Leafs had with Marner's last deal. If Florida continues to be the team to beat in the East, the only way to get through them is to try and match them. The Panthers were the league's top contract efficiency team last year and that will likely be the case again this year. Those discounts at the top of the lineup create depth in the middle of it. It's been the separating factor between the teams that win and the Leafs for the entirety of Marner's last contract. If he is serious about winning, taking less to do so should be a serious consideration for him because that sacrifice starts with players of his ilk. That thought process applies to the other contenders — Carolina, Vegas — that Marner has been linked to, not just Toronto. Advertisement That's within reason, of course. No one expects Marner to take an $8 million deal with any team, but even a small discount would help signify what matters most to him. That's been the biggest question surrounding him over the last six seasons as a result of his last public contract negotiation, where he earned a deal well above what was expected. The current public negotiation of his next contract has done nothing to dispel the notion. The number Marner ends up signing for will be extremely telling. If it's $13 million or more, it's money that's likely the highest priority. If it's $12 million or less, it would show that Marner is a lot more serious about winning than his current reputation dictates. Where Marner wants public perception of him to lie is in his hands. More money means a higher bar for him to clear. While Marner will have the opportunity to rise above it and prove he's worth every dollar of a big ticket deal, it's not a strength he's proven he possesses. Not when it matters. Data via Evolving-Hockey and AFP Analytics
Hamilton Spectator
19 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Where will Mitch Marner sign? Here's where the Maple Leafs star could end up, and how he'd fit in
Maybe the Maple Leafs will decide to move on from Mitch Marner . Maybe Marner will decide life will be better elsewhere. No matter what happens July 1 , the hockey prodigy from Thornhill will be the most coveted free agent on the market since John Tavares seven years ago. Tavares, a former Islanders centre from Oakville, came home to play with Marner, Auston Matthews and William Nylander, forming the Leafs' Core Four. Now Marner could break up the gang, looking for riches or success elsewhere. Marner will be rich, to the tune of $13 million (U.S.) or more a year. Most teams have the salary cap space for him or can find a way to create it. The question is: Where will he land? He would make any team in the league better, but which one is going to win his services? Here are a handful of possibilities: GM Steve Yzerman followed the Leafs through the playoffs, and could believe his team is a Marner away from making the post-season. He's probably right. The Red Wings haven't made the playoffs in nine years but have come painfully close the last two seasons. Despite picking no higher than fourth in the draft (Lucas Raymond, 2020) in their nine wayward seasons, Yzerman has an array of young talent (Moritz Seider, Marco Kasper) that needs outside help to go further. It's not a sure thing that the Memorial Cup MVP will start next season in the NHL, but there should be opportunity. It's not a sure thing that the Memorial Cup MVP will start next season in the NHL, but there should be opportunity. Marner on the right side of centre Dylan Larkin could push the Wings captain to new heights, beyond his usual 30-plus goals a year. Detroit is a historic franchise with good ownership used to winning. It's also close to home for Marner. But even with a 100-point right winger, the Wings wouldn't be a serious Stanley Cup contender. From Jack Eichel to Alex Pietrangelo to Mark Stone to Noah Hanifin, Golden Knights owner Bill Foley is used to making a big splash and getting the shiniest bauble available. A quick look at their cap situation suggests the Knights don't have enough space, but it's never stopped them before. GM Kelly McCrimmon can be cutthroat, moving on from players quickly. Just ask Max Pacioretty, Marc-André Fleury or the recently repatriated Reilly Smith. Winning matters more than loyalty. It's part of Vegas's DNA , to always find a way to contend. Just imagine the magic that could develop between Marner and Eichel. Marner would be part of a Cup contender with an underrated fan base, but not one that will blame him for every loss. GM Kyle Dubas has a long-standing relationship with Marner, having drafted him in Toronto and giving him this six-year, $65.4-million deal that is expiring. And the lure of playing with Sidney Crosby — Marner's childhood hero — could prove too much to resist. Crosby made it clear in the 4 Nations Face-Off that he admires Marner's talent. Marner was giddy scoring an overtime winner on a pass from Crosby. The Penguins aren't exactly Stanley Cup contenders, now with a rookie coach in Dan Muse. But Marner would make the team younger and could get them back into the playoffs. And not that the 37-year-old Crosby needs a new lease on life — he had 91 points last season — but Marner might give him one anyway. Owner James Dolan has no patience for losing, and with the team failing to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021, he'll be on board with paying to make the team better. Marner would also be insurance with Artemi Panarin heading into his free agency year in 2025-26. The Rangers are deep at forward, so Marner wouldn't have to carry the load. But he could help get more out of Alexis Lafrenière or help revive Mika Zibanejad after an off-year. The renamed Utah Hockey Club is looking to make a big splash to reward fans for their support and to build loyalty by making the playoffs. The team built on the backs of the defunct Arizona Coyotes has some rising talent in Clayton Keller, Lawson Crouse and Dylan Guenther. Marner would be 'the man' on the Mammoth. Wouldn't that be a delicious turn of events for an Islanders fan base that saw their prized captain Tavares leave for Toronto seven years back? New GM Mathieu Darche, the former right-hand man of Tampa Bay GM Julien BriseBois, has plenty of cap space. The Islanders are a good but not great team that missed the playoffs this year. Marner, 28, fits in age-wise with players like Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat. The Kings have lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round in each of the last four seasons and might see Marner as a means to finally find a way to go deeper. New GM Ken Holland can set a new direction by adding Marner to a lineup rife with high-skilled veterans (Anze Kopitar, Kevin Fiala, Adrian Kempe) and burgeoning young talent (Quinton Byfield, Alex Laferriere). There is much less of a choice here with Marner than it once seemed, and Brad Treliving is the one who let it get to this point, writes Damien Cox. There is much less of a choice here with Marner than it once seemed, and Brad Treliving is the one who let it get to this point, writes Damien Cox. Lightning coach Jon Cooper loves Marner. He has coached him a couple of times at international events and will again next year at the Winter Olympics. Marner probably has a closer relationship with Cooper than he would with most opposition coaches. Who wouldn't want to play for a coach who appreciates your talent? It would take some cap magic, and maybe a trade or two, for Marner to land in Tampa, but BriseBois has found his way around the cap before. Marner, though, might have to take a back seat to Nikita Kucherov, the first-line right winger. And if Marner harbours any ill will toward the Leafs, going to Tampa could be some Machiavellian revenge.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Rory McIlroy Offers Eye-Opening Comments on Maple Leafs
Rory McIlroy Offers Eye-Opening Comments on Maple Leafs originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into a crucial offseason following another early playoff exit. Toronto fell short in Game 7 of their second-round series with the Florida Panthers, sending them to another bitter offseason. Advertisement With the team having multiple key players entering free agency, the roster could look very different next season. But many have questioned the legitimacy of the title contention from this franchise, considering the playoff failures that occur each year. However, golf star Rory McIlroy hasn't lost faith. The veteran golfer had some eye-opening comments on the Maple Leafs' title chances. 'If I can win the Masters, then the Leafs can win the Stanley Cup,' he told TSN's Bob Weeks, having been longtime friends with Pelley. 'I hope they do it, I was pulling for them hard, especially now because Keith is involved.' Rory McIlroy walks off the 15th green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Quail Dedmon-Imagn Images The Maple Leafs have seen a 57-year Stanley Cup drought, last lifting the trophy in 1967. Toronto has built consistent winning teams almost every year, but the organization continues to fall short in the playoffs. Advertisement 'I guess we now all have to throw our support behind the Oilers at this point, but one day I hope…it's only a matter of time.', McIlroy said. The franchise is expected to make some big changes across the roster this offseason in the hope of mixing things up. The Maple Leafs front office seems determined to bring a title back to Toronto, starting with the president and chief executive officer of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Keith Pelley. "Our next step is to take it to the next level and we felt that this move would help us get to the next level. Make no mistake about it, making the playoffs and winning rounds is not our aspirational goal; our goal is to win the Stanley Cup.", Pelley stated. Maybe McIlroy will turn out to be right someday. But for now, the Maple Leafs have a lot of work to do before they can fully be considered true Stanley Cup contenders. Advertisement Related: Sabres Predicted to Land All-Star in Major Offseason Move Related: Surprising NHL Team Expected to Be 'Major' Players in Free Agency This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
