Linus Ullmark Records First Career Playoff Shutout as Senators Blank Maple Leafs 4-0 in Game 5

Linus Ullmark Records First Career Playoff Shutout as Senators Blank Maple Leafs 4-0 in Game 5

Linus Ullmark stopped all 29 shots he faced to earn the first playoff shutout of his NHL career, leading the Ottawa Senators to a dominant 4-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 5 of their first-round series. The victory helped Ottawa cut Toronto’s series lead to 3-2 and force Game 6 back in Ottawa on Thursday night.



Key Highlights from Senators vs. Maple Leafs Game 5:

• Linus Ullmark: 29-save shutout performance
• Thomas Chabot: First career playoff goal opened scoring in the second period
• Dylan Cozens: Scored short-handed for Ottawa's second goal
• Brady Tkachuk & Tim Stützle: Each had a goal and two assists
• Anthony Stolarz (TOR): Made 15 saves on 17 shots

Senators Keep Series Alive with Back-to-Back Wins

• Ottawa avoided elimination for the second straight game, following a 4-3 OT win in Game 4.
• Tkachuk and Stützle each recorded three-point nights to lead the offense.
• Cozens' short-handed goal came on a 2-on-1 rush and marked Ottawa's second shorthanded goal in as many games.
• Stützle and Tkachuk sealed the win with two empty-net goals late in the third period.

Toronto Maple Leafs Struggle in Close-Out Games

• The Maple Leafs dropped to 1-13 in series-clinching games in the Auston Matthews–Mitch Marner era (since 2018).
• Toronto failed to convert on a key power play opportunity in the third, allowing a short-handed goal instead.
• Auston Matthews hit the post late in regulation, echoing a similar missed chance in Game 4 overtime.

NHL History: Teams Overcoming 3-0 Deficits

Only four teams in NHL history have come back from a 3-0 series deficit:

• 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1975 New York Islanders
• 2010 Philadelphia Flyers
• 2014 Los Angeles Kings

Postgame Quotes

• Brady Tkachuk (OTT): “Our will to win was high. Now it’s all about resetting and refocusing.”
• Craig Berube (TOR Coach): “Our group was focused and ready to go.”
• Travis Green (OTT Coach): “Momentum can shift fast. We’ve talked about that all year—and it’s paying off.”

Game 6 Info:

• Date: Thursday, May 1
• Location: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa
• Series Status: Toronto leads 3-2