Shane Pinto completed the Ottawa Senators’ comeback in overtime to down the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in the home side’s first preseason game at Scotiabank Arena.
Senators Michael Amadio sprung Pinto in alone just 16 seconds into the extra frame, and he made no mistake, beating goaltender Artur Akhtyamov over the glove hand to split the home and home series.
Despite a third period collapse by the Maple Leafs–that saw the Senators erase a 2-0 deficit in the last 13 minutes and outshoot Toronto 17-7 – the blue and white had some positives to take away from their first exhibition tilt with a near-full NHL squad dressed.
Newly acquired winger Matias Maccelli played alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies on the top line, a spot that was held by former Maple Leaf Mitch Marner for the better part of the last decade.
“He made some nice plays,” said head coach Craig Berube in his post game press conference. “A couple of assists tonight, but he’s like everybody else, working his way in and getting the rust off.”
Maccelli’s two assists, one on the power play, along with his overall play also made an impression on his new linemates and team.
“He’s a really shifty player, he’s slippery out there, [he] has really good vision,” said Matthews, in his post game media scrum. “I thought we communicated well and created some good offensive chances.”
On top of the two helpers, Maccelli finished a plus one with two hits and one block in his 16:33 of icetime.
Another Maple Leafs winger continues to impress in preseason. Easton “Cowboy” Cowan built off of his last preseason game and was pencilled in on the fourth line playing with Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz.
The “Cowboy” was a pest in the offensive zone with four shots, three hits and tallied an assist on Bobby McMann’s power play goal.
“I thought Cowboy played really well,” said the Maple Leafs captain. “He was in the mix a lot, made some good plays. Responsible on both sides of the puck”
Cowan, coming off a season with the London Knights (OHL) where he became the all-time leading playoff point scorer in franchise history, has worked with the coaching staff on adjusting his game to the NHL level.
“I liked Easton’s game; he did a lot of good things,” said Berube.
“He was physical, direct, got some opportunities on net… [played] simple hockey, using his speed and obviously he has abilities to make plays, and [when he did] they were the right plays at the right time, which is important. He worked and hounded, backchecked, did a lot of good things”
Unlike 2024-25, Cowan is eligible to be sent down to the AHL, so the rookie will have to continue to impress to bump one of the other depth forwards out of the lineup.
Toronto opened the scoring 4:24 into the first period, and it was none other than captain Matthews. During a lengthy offensive zone shift, it was Matthews on a give-and-go play with defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larson who buried the wrist shot low on goaltender Leevi Merilainen to make it 1-0.
The Maple Leafs drew their first penalty of the game in the offensive zone courtesy of a Pinto interference call.
On the man advantage, it would be the second unit that converted. Bobby McMann roofed a spin around backhand on the assist from Cowan and Maccelli to make it 2-0 late in the first frame.
Through the first two periods, Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby put together a 23-save shutout before being relieved by Akhtyamov, as most teams split starts between both dressed goalies in preseason.
“[Hildeby] was good, he was good in tight,” said Berube. “A lot of scramble plays, and he was really solid covering the net”
With no timeline on Joseph Woll’s return, who took an indefinite leave of absence Tuesday to attend to a family matter, Hildeby could be in line to back up Anthony Stolarz come the regular season opener on October 7.
Similar to Toronto’s goaltending, the Senators’ starting netminder, Leevi Merilainen, was replaced by Hunter Shepard to start the third frame. Merilainen allowed two goals on 25 shots in 40 minutes of play.
On the Maple Leafs’ fourth power play of the game, Ottawa would be the one to convert, scoring their first shorthanded goal of the preseason. On a counterattack, Fabian Zetterlund buried the rebound off of Donovan Sabrango’s low shot, cutting the Maple Leafs’ lead to 2-1.
Toronto forward Matthew Knies, midway through the third, was tripped up by Ottawa’s Dylan Cozens in the offensive zone. On the play, Knies slid headfirst into the legs of Matthews and Ottawa defender Artem Zub.
The Maple Leafs forward left the game for a brief stint but returned later.
Late in the period, Toronto’s Scott Laughton took a cross-checking penalty, giving the Senators a prime chance to tie the game late, which they did. Pinto buried one on the doorstep after a scramble in front to tie the game 2-2 and send it to overtime.
The Maple Leafs continue their preseason Saturday at home against the Montreal Canadians (2-0). Ottawa will match up with the New Jersey Devils at Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday afternoon.