Ottawa Senators Return to Playoffs Against Toronto Maple Leafs After 21 Years

The Ottawa Senators have ended a seven-year playoff drought, clinching an Eastern Conference wild-card spot and reigniting the storied Battle of Ontario against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Historically, Leafs fans have taken over Ottawa's Canadian Tire Centre during key matchups, but new ownership under Michael Andlauer and revised ticket policies have aimed to restore home-ice advantage for Sens supporters, leading to a surge in local ticket demand and the cancellation of broker accounts. The Senators' young core, led by Tim Stutzle and captain Brady Tkachuk, will face their first playoff test against a Maple Leafs roster with far more postseason experience, making composure and leadership from veterans like Claude Giroux critical. Stutzle, who had a career season, is especially vital to Ottawa's hopes and must resist being drawn into on-ice distractions by Toronto's agitators. While Ottawa's rebuild, long championed by late owner Eugene Melnyk, has finally yielded a playoff berth, the team now faces the challenge of translating their progress into postseason success against a perennial rival. The outcome will hinge not only on talent but also on whether the Senators can truly reclaim their arena and rise to the moment after years of frustration.