Leafs and Senators Renew Intense Rivalry in Battle of Ontario

Casey Halston

Published: February 28, 2026 6:37 PM ET

Leafs and Senators Renew Intense Rivalry in Battle of Ontario

The Battle of Ontario is set to reignite as the Toronto Maple Leafs face off against the Ottawa Senators. This matchup holds significant weight for both teams, who are in urgent need of a victory. Neither team has secured a win in over three weeks, with Toronto suffering two defeats in Florida and Ottawa falling short in a recent overtime loss to Detroit.

Current Standings and Playoff Outlook

Both franchises, which made the playoffs last season, find themselves on the outside looking in as the regular season nears its conclusion. The Senators currently sit at 64 points and have a +240 betting line on FanDuel, suggesting a 29.41% chance of closing a seven-point gap to secure a playoff spot. Conversely, the Leafs are just one point behind Ottawa, with a betting line of +750 (11.76% chance) to reach the postseason.

Key Player Insights

Captains Collide: Matthews and Tkachuk

This game features the two American-born captains, Auston Matthews and Brady Tkachuk, who recently won gold at the Olympics. In their first two games post-Olympics, Matthews has yielded two points but no goals. He has a strong history against Ottawa, with 11 points in his last eight matchups. Meanwhile, Tkachuk is riding a hot streak with a goal in his last game and points in six consecutive games against Toronto.

Rookies and Veterans

Easton Cowan is set to return to Toronto’s lineup after a 30-day absence. The rookie has recorded seven goals and 10 assists this season. Head coach Craig Berube earlier remarked on Cowan’s development, believing it has progressed well despite his recent absence.

On the Senators’ side, veteran Claude Giroux continues to shine. He has accumulated 10 points in his last 10 games against Toronto, maintaining a remarkable scoring average against them throughout his career.

Notable Trends and Betting Insights

The Senators are 1-5 in their last six games against teams with bottom 10 scoring defenses.
The over has occurred in 12 of the last 18 road games for Ottawa.
Tim Stützle has scored in five of his last ten games against Toronto.
Auston Matthews has earned at least one assist in four of his last five games against bottom 10 defenses.
Matthew Knies has scored five goals in his last seven games against Ottawa.