Mitch Marner wasted no time making his mark as the Toronto Maple Leafs dominated the Ottawa Senators 6-2 in Game of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Marner, assisted by Auston Matthews, opened the scoring early, setting the tone for a night where Toronto’s top line outplayed Ottawa’s best and the Leafs’ power play capitalized on key opportunities.
Head coach Craig Berube, who took over the Leafs this season, praised his team’s discipline and composure in a physical contest. “We did a good job of controlling our emotions and playing through it. You have to,” Berube told reporters, emphasizing that the team’s focus and special teams were crucial to the win.
Marner, coming off a career-best 102-point season, credited Berube’s calm, steady influence for helping the Leafs stay united under pressure. “Just to start off with a win is great, but we have to look forward to the next one. It’s going to be even harder to win the next one,” Marner said, highlighting the team’s determination to keep improving as the series continues.
With Toronto’s stars clicking and Berube’s playoff-tested leadership, the Leafs have sent a clear message—but with Ottawa sure to respond, all eyes are on Game.
