OTTAWA — With what appeared to be sea of blue sweaters cheering on the Maple Leafs in Ottawa on Saturday night, the Senators won their first “home game” of the season, defeating one the league’s hottest teams 6-3.
Winners of six of seven on the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs entered the 'Battle of Ontario' as one the league’s hottest teams. But the Senators’ trio of Bobby Ryan, Derick Brassard and Mark Stone proved to be the difference.
Brassard took Ryan’s cross-ice pass from skate to stick, putting his team up 3-0 at the close of the second period.
Juicy wrister from Brassard and continued stellar offense from the @Senators.
— NHL (@NHL) October 22, 2017
Highlights: https://t.co/yopulupN86 #TORvsOTT pic.twitter.com/7QP9BdyyEZ
Then it was Stone’s time to shine mere moments after Auston Matthews closed the Maple Leafs' gap to one 8:34 into the third period — and only seven seconds after Senators coach Guy Boucher called a timeout, a 30-second break Stone actually didn’t want.
“I encouraged (Boucher) not to call a timeout. Our line was feeling it,” Stone said. “But it was good, it settled the guys down.”
Boucher, though, stood buy his decision.
“That’s why we have a coach," Boucher said. "It gave a bit of time for our players to breathe.”
Stone was right in that his line was feeling it. Last season’s NHL leader in takeaways picked off an errant Nikita Zaitsev pass before depositing his own rebound, which turned into the game-winner.
The game winning goal was ALL Mark Stone. pic.twitter.com/iXn6HXSMlA
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) October 22, 2017
Derick Brassard had another strong outing, matching Stone’s three-point night and roofing an insurance goal over Maple Leafs netminder Frederik Andersen.
The Ottawa resident now has six goals in eight games. Last season, Brassard did not net his sixth marker until his 32 games into the season.
However, the Senators most successful line was dealt a blow early in the final frame. Maple Leafs defenseman Ron Hainsey’s shot hit Bobby Ryan in the hand, fracturing his right index finger. Ryan is expected to miss the next four weeks.
It’s his third break of his hand or finger in less than a full season.
“I feel for (Ryan)," Boucher said. "He’s made giant leaps personally, on the ice, off the ice. It’s pretty sad right now."