Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi (11) and defenceman Brandon Carlo (25) congratulate defenceman Morgan Rielly (44) on his goal against the Ottawa Senators during the third period of game one of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Watch: Game 1 of Battle of Ontario ends with chaos, extensive penalties

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Apr 20, 2025 11:26 PM ET

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators had one of the fiercest rivalries in the NHL, especially after multiple playoff matchups. w

Things really started to pop off on Sunday night late in the Maple Leafs' 6-2 Game 1 win.

The final minute was full of skirmishes and fights, including one brawl with 43 seconds to play.

It also had to bring back memories for fans of both teams as Toronto's Max Domi was at the center of it, just like his dad, Tie Domi, was for so many Maple Leafs-Senators playoff games more than two decades ago.

Would it really be a #StanleyCup Playoff Battle of Ontario game without a Domi in a melee? pic.twitter.com/cNgy01g8ci
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 21, 2025

That sequence resulted in every skater on the ice earning a roughing minor, and this hilarious penalty announcement from referee Garrett Rank.

A grocery list of penalties to end the game pic.twitter.com/4na7a4s0Ae
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 21, 2025

Things got heated again at the final buzzer.

The first Battle of Ontario playoff game in over two decades ends with some more bad blood

The Leafs take Game 1, 6-2 pic.twitter.com/3zjUP6PwXK
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 21, 2025

As bad as the final score looks for Ottawa, this series can still be salvaged. It needs more from starting goalie Linus Ullmark, and also to stay out of the penalty box, but there were moments in this game where the Senators were able to tilt the ice and control play at times.

Winning Game 2 to avoid a 2-0 series deficit is going to be huge. The physical stuff is also going to carry over.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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