Maple Leafs Fall to Senators as Toronto Secures Top-Five Draft Selection

In the final Battle of Ontario of the 2025-26 season, the Ottawa Senators flexed their muscles with a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night. The Senators were led by a relentless power play, with Drake Batherson opening the scoring in the first period off a perfect cross-crease pass from Claude Giroux. Ottawa’s efficiency with the man advantage continued in the second period when Warren Foegele snapped a low shot past Toronto’s Dennis Hildeby to make it 2-0. Despite resting six of their regular starters for the upcoming playoffs, the Senators dominated puck possession and outshot the Leafs for much of the evening.

The loss was the seventh straight for the Maple Leafs (32-36-14), marking a dismal end to a season that began with championship aspirations. However, there is a strategic upside to the defeat: by finishing with the fifth-worst record in the NHL, Toronto ensures they will retain their first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, which was top-five protected. The late-season collapse, while painful for fans, has placed the organization in a position to select a franchise-altering talent this summer. William Nylander provided the lone offensive bright spot for Toronto, scoring his 30th of the season in the third period to cut the lead to 2-1, but an empty-netter by Dylan Cozens iced the game for Ottawa.

A significant storyline for Toronto was the performance of Dennis Hildeby. Recalled from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies just a day before the game, Hildeby was under fire from the opening whistle. He finished the game with 35 saves on 37 shots, keeping the Leafs within striking distance despite a stagnant offense. His ability to track the puck through traffic and his athleticism on a highlight-reel save against Foegele in the first period earned him praise from the coaching staff. With the Maple Leafs' goaltending situation uncertain heading into the 2026-27 season, Hildeby’s strong showing in the finale could earn him a long look during training camp.

The Senators, meanwhile, head into the postseason with a 44-27-11 record and 99 points. Veteran goaltender James Reimer, facing his former team, stopped 19 of 20 shots to secure the win. Ottawa’s depth was on full display, as players like Sosh Pinto and Nikolas Matinpalo stepped into larger roles to accommodate resting veterans. The Senators have emerged as a dark horse in the Eastern Conference, combining the veteran savvy of Giroux with the elite scoring touch of Batherson and Tim Stützle. Their special teams' performance on Wednesday suggests they are peaking at exactly the right time.

As the regular season concludes, the two Ontario rivals head in vastly different directions. Ottawa prepares for a high-stakes playoff series, while Toronto begins a comprehensive autopsy of what went wrong. The Maple Leafs finished the year with just 32 wins and a points percentage that left them near the bottom of the Atlantic Division. While the draft pick is a consolation prize, the front office will likely face significant scrutiny after a season defined by inconsistency and a lack of defensive structure. For the Senators, the victory over their biggest rival was the perfect springboard into what they hope is a deep playoff run.