Ottawa Senators End Multi-Game Scoring Drought In 2-1 Win Over Toronto Maple Leafs

The Ottawa Senators ended a two game goalless drought on Saturday night, defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 at Canadian Tire Centre. Shane Pinto's goal midway through the third period stood up as the game winner.

For the third time in four games, Sens goalie Anton Forsberg allowed just one goal and posted a save percentage of .960 or better, stopping 28 of 29 shots.

After an early first period goal by Leaf forward Bobby McMann, the Senators tied it seven minutes later on a 4 on 3 power play. Toronto's David Kampf had no stick and made the ill-advised decision to skate to the Leaf bench for a replacement. That gave the Sens just enough time and space to set up Tim Stutzle for a one-timer.

That's all it took for the Sens to snap their 147-minute scoring drought. They just had to wait for the other team to have only two players defending their zone.

The 1-1 tie continued for the next 40 minutes until Pinto won it on a third period goal that the Leafs initially figured they could challenge for a number of reasons. As challengeable goals go, this was one appeared to have it all. Was that a high stick? Was it scored with a kicking motion? Did the puck even cross the line?

It was an obvious 'no' on all counts.

Sens forward Matthew Highmore swatted at a loose puck in the air that was well below the crossbar. It then bounced off Pinto's knee well before he made a kicking motion. And then the puck made it over the goal line before Mitch Marner could fish it out.

Forsberg and the Sens shut everything down from there, except the injury bug. Nick Cousins collided knee on knee with Toronto's Jacob Quillan, who was playing in his first NHL game. Cousins needed help leaving the ice and did not return.

Head coach Travis Green rarely gives a same night prognosis of a player's injury. He said after the game that Cousins is going to be "out for a while."

For all the talk of the Senators' recent scoring deficiencies, the Leafs have a total of one goal in their two losses to Ottawa this season. The Sens beat Toronto 3-0 in their first meeting.

Attendance at the CTC was 18,818 for Toronto's only visit to Ottawa this season. The Sens will host Utah on Sunday at 5 pm.

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