NHL Scores: Senators thrill home crowd with 3-2 win over Maple Leafs
The Daily Goal Horn
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The Ottawa Senators scored three goals in the first period and held on for a 3-2 victory over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night.
Anton Forsberg, starting in goal because Matt Murray was ill, made 46 saves for Ottawa.
Tyler Ennis had a goal and an assist, and Chris Tierney and Alex Formenton added goals for the Senators in their season opener.
Jason Spezza and William Nylander each had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who won their opener Wednesday, 2-1 over the Montreal Canadiens.
“We showed we can really play hockey tonight against a really good team, and Brady will help us a lot more,” Tim Stutzle said afterwards. “He’s a really good player, but he’s an even better person off the ice. Having him back, as a friend, is really, really good.”
NHL scores: Senators 3 vs Maple Leafs 2
Petr Mrazek stopped 23 shots for Toronto before he suffered a groin injury late in the second period. Jack Campbell replaced him in the third and made 10 saves.
Ottawa scored twice in the final two minutes of their three-goal first period.
Tierney scored at 8:31 when Nick Holden’s pass went into the goal off his skate. Ennis also earned an assist as Ottawa took advantage of Pierre Engvall’s turnover and Mrazek’s rebound.
Ennis scored on a deflection during a power play at 18:58. Thomas Chabot and Tim Stutzle earned assists. Wayne Simmonds was off for slashing.
Formenton scored at 19:59 on a shot from the right circle. Victor Mete had the assist as Ottawa capitalized on Ondrej Kase’s turnover.
Both goaltenders were tested in the second period, and Toronto’s Jake Muzzin hit a post.
Toronto took the first 13 shots of the third period, and Spezza scored from the right circle on a power play at 3:11. Nikita Zaitsev was off for holding.
Nylander scored from the right circle on a pass from Spezza at 8:50 of the third when Tierney was off for holding.
Campbell was removed for an extra attacker late in the third period. But Toronto’s John Tavares was penalized for hooking at 19:18.
Auston Matthews, recovering from wrist surgery, did not play for Toronto.
Brady Tkachuk, a restricted free agent, agreed to a seven-year, $57.5 million contract with Ottawa on Thursday but did not play.
–Field Level Media