Senators suffer two setbacks to Leafs in pre-season play

Kasper Halttunen of the Ottawa Senators (left) skates with the puck against Jake McCabe of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first period of pre-season game action at Scotiabank Arena on Sept. 23, 2026 in Toronto. Photo by Chris Tanouye /Getty Images

Article content

LEAFS 4, SENATORS 2 at Ottawa

Article content

LEAFS 6, SENATORS 1 at Toronto

Article content

Article content

The Battle of Ontario was fought on two fronts on Wednesday night.

Article content

The Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs held a pre-season version of their rivalry with split-squad games at the Canadian Tire Centre and at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

Article content

In front of an announced crowd of 11,765 at the Canadian Tire Centre, Ryan Tveberg scored the winner late in the third period to give the Leafs a 4-2 victory over the Senators.

Article content

Article content

The group that the Senators sent to Toronto was hammered 6-1 by the Leafs.

Article content

Article content

There wasn’t much intensity in Ottawa or Toronto, but that should change the next time these teams meet. The Senators will open their regular season against the Maple Leafs on Oct. 3 in Toronto. That will be Toronto’s third regular-season game.

Article content

The Leafs essentially sent the Marlies to Ottawa, while the Senators went with a mix of their opening night rosters and prospects in both cities. Coach Travis Green said that the organization felt that was the best way to get a look at everybody.

Article content

“You go back and forth, and you think about it all summer when you have a split game, whether to load up one team, load up another team, send your good team on the road, or (play them) at home,” said Green. “Our preference is to split them up as best we can.”

Article content

This night was proof as to why the National Hockey League has limited the length of camp and cut down on pre-season games.

Article content

Through 40 minutes, only Dylan Cozens had beaten Toronto goalie Anthony Stolarz, and the two clubs were tied 1-1.

Article content

“We’re just trying to get better with the details and focus on getting our system right,” said Cozens.

Article content

Article content

The shots were 14-14, and there wasn’t a whole lot happening. Ottawa’s Sammy Blais made his presence felt by delivering a big hit and dropping the gloves, but that was the highlight.

Article content

Article content

Injuries create opportunities

Article content

Green confirmed on Wednesday that defenceman Artem Zub won’t play in the season opener. To make the scenario a little more interesting, Jake Sanderson and Jordan Spence are also nursing minor ailments.

Article content

Zub is still nursing a knee injury he suffered in the playoffs last spring, and the Senators insisted he would be ready to start the season. Since that’s not happening, veteran Ben Hutton is pushing for a contract, while prospect Carter Yakemchuk is trying to lock up a spot.

Article content

Hutton was with veteran Cameron Crotty in a pairing in Ottawa, while Tyler Kleven skated with Yakemchuk in the first pairing in Toronto. Nikolas Matinpalo can also take on more responsibility, but there is a scenario where Hutton earns a contract.

Article content

Senators defenceman Hoyt Stanley scored a beauty to tie the game 2-2 at 10:42 of the third period. That was moments after Steven Lorentz had scored to give the Leafs the lead.