Max Domi's Father Reacts to Son's Winning Goal in Maple Leafs-Senators

As the crowd erupted, cameras spotted Tie Domi celebrating in the stands with a wide grin and giving a handshake to a friend.

“Obviously, it was a great play by Benny,” Max said after the game. “Shoot the puck, anything can happen.”

Domi downplayed his personal moment of history.

“Every night there’s a different hero in the playoffs, doesn’t really matter who scores as long as you get the win,” Domi said.

The Leafs hadn’t opened a postseason with a 2–0 series lead since 2002, a stretch spanning more than 20 years. Max was just seven years old then, as his father was playing for Toronto three years before he retired.

“Big win. Obviously, we needed that one,” Domi said. “Got to give Ottawa all the credit in the world, they played a heck of a hockey game. The boys stuck with it, made some plays we had to make at the right time. 

"Big win. On to the next one now."

Head coach Craig Berube praised the team's effort leading up to Domi's goal during his post-game press conference.

“Yeah, it was great to see that goal by Max,” Berube said. “Obviously a great play. (Simon) Benoit made a great play on it.

”We stayed with it and ended up getting the win.”

With the series shifting to Ottawa for Games 3 and 4, Toronto now holds a commanding 2-0 lead and will feel confident about reaching the second round of the playoffs for just the second time since 2004.