The Toronto Maple Leafs looked poised to finally shed their playoff demons, especially with longtime nemesis Boston Bruins not standing in their way this year. After grabbing a 3-1 series lead over the Ottawa Senators in their first-round Stanley Cup playoff matchup, many believed Toronto was on the verge of advancing with authority.
But Ottawa had other plans — and former Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark played a starring role in flipping the script.After a shaky start to the series, Ullmark delivered a masterpiece in Game 5, earning his first-ever playoff shutout as the Senators stunned the Maple Leafs with a 4-0 win on Toronto’s home ice. His performance helped Ottawa stave off elimination and shift the momentum heading back to the nation’s capital for a potentially series-tying Game 6.Ullmark had struggled mightily in the opening games, allowing at least three goals in each of the first four contests and posting a subpar .815 save percentage through the first three. His Game 4 effort was an improvement—31 saves in an overtime win — but Game 5 was a true turning point. He stopped all 29 shots he faced, and head coach Travis Green praised the performance, reinforcing the team’s faith in their netminder.Senators captain Brady Tkachuk echoed that sentiment, calling Ullmark “our best player” on the night. The shutout not only gave the Senators life in the series but also cast fresh doubts on Toronto’s playoff composure.
For the Maple Leafs and their fans, the situation feels hauntingly familiar. Toronto has a well-documented history of playoff collapses:In 2022, they led Tampa Bay 3-2 in the first round, only to lose the final two games.In 2021, they blew a 3-1 lead to the Montreal Canadiens, dropping three straight — including an overtime loss in Game 5 that turned the tide.In 2019, they led the Bruins 3-2 but lost Game 6 at home and were soundly defeated in Game 7.And most infamously, in 2013, they were up 4-1 in the third period of Game 7 against Boston before a historic collapse led to overtime heartbreak.Now, with the Senators surging and Ullmark rediscovering his form, the pressure once again shifts onto Toronto. Despite their talent, the Leafs haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1967, and these recurring first-round exits — often from winning positions — only deepen the frustration.Ottawa, meanwhile, is energized. With home-ice advantage in Game 6 and their goalie red-hot, they have every reason to believe in forcing a Game 7. For Ullmark, it’s a chance to rewrite his own playoff story — and maybe help script another agonizing chapter in the Maple Leafs’ postseason saga.Would you like a visual breakdown of Ullmark’s performance or Toronto’s playoff collapses over the years?