The Ottawa Senators take round one of the Battle of Ontario with a 5 -3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Although, in their season home opener the Sens found themselves off to a shaky start, falling behind 1-0 midway throughout the first courtesy of a Leafs goal from Zach Hyman.
CHABOT ONE-TIMER!!!! #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/RO8UOZL4oG
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) January 16, 2021
It took a one-timer from Senators’ Thomas Chabot with just 44 seconds to go in the period during a two-man advantage, for the first Sens to celebrate their first goal of the 2021 campaign. Drake Batherson provided the feed, with rookie Josh Norris chipping in with his first career NHL point.
Midway through the second the Sens found themselves behind again after Alexander Kerfoot’s shot from the slot put one past Murray 9:15 into the second. But after that the Sens went to work, scoring three unanswered goals in just 4:35.
WATSON FOR THE LEAD!!!#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/PZu3wdFRFQ
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) January 16, 2021
Tkachuk got things rolling tipping Zaitsev’s shot past Frederik Andersen at 10:28 before former Nashville Predator Austin Watson scored his first as a Senator with a bardown wrister two minutes later putting the Sens up 3-2.
BAR ⬇️#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/p6aAPsTLKQ
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) January 16, 2021
Ottawa increased their lead shortly after that thanks to a spin-o-rama from centre Chris Tierney after yet ricochet from yet another Zaitsev’s shot.
TIERNEY EXTENDS THE LEAD!!!#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/tepig81hba
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) January 16, 2021

Veteran newcomer Derek Stepan then scored his first in the red, black and gold 6:15 into the third after forcing a turnover behind the Leaf’s net then feeding Batherson who was stoned by Freddie Anderson leaving a juicy rebound for Stepan to pounce on and bury.
Force the turnover.
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) January 16, 2021
Bury the loose puck yourself.#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/8OFzUr9nIj
The Maple Leafs kept things exciting with captain John Tavares scoring at 13:53 during a two-man powerplay advantage.
The two teams face off again tonight in Ottawa. Derek Stepan alluded to the upcoming rematch during the post game interview. “We enjoy tonight but tomorrow, we’ve got a tough match-up again,” Stepan said. “With the way the schedule is set-up, you’ve got to have a short-term memory. We got a good win tonight but tomorrow we’ve got to put our work boots back on.”
The Battle of Ontario continues tonight, as the two teams are at it again in Kanata, Saturday at 7 p.m. at Canadian Tire Centre.
by OTTtimes staff
with notes from nhl.com