{"id":467737,"date":"2025-04-29T08:13:32","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T12:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=467737"},"modified":"2025-04-29T04:53:28","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T08:53:28","slug":"first-round-nhl-playoffs-2025-game-5-toronto-maple-leafs-ottawa-senators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/04\/29\/first-round-nhl-playoffs-2025-game-5-toronto-maple-leafs-ottawa-senators\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Playoff Edition Predictions Game 5 from Toronto between the Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome back to the Battle of Ontario,\u00a0<\/em>one we almost didn’t have. This is our NHL Predictions<\/a> from Last Word on Hockey as we take a look at the first-round Eastern Conference 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs series<\/a> between heated rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> and the Ottawa Senators<\/a>. The Leafs hold a commanding three-games-to-one lead as the series shifts back to Toronto for Game 5. Just who will take the series, find out our thoughts, next.<\/p>\n

NHL Predictions With the Ottawa Senators at the Toronto Maple Leafs from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario<\/h3>\n

TV:<\/strong> Sportsnet, CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada<\/em>, TVA Sports, ESPN<\/p>\n

7:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)<\/p>\n

Eastern Conference Round One Playoff Series:<\/strong> Toronto 3 – Ottawa 1.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

When you really think about it, Game 5 might be the best chance for the Leafs at winning the series. Another way to look at it is, the longer the series goes on, the higher the Sens probability of winning. Currently, Ottawa is listed around +900. However, if Toronto can’t get it done on home ice in Game 5, going back to Ottawa for Game 6 will be no easy task for the Leafs. Then, Game 7 comes down to a coin flip. Those Ottawa series odds will have dipped much close to +200, if not better. So, who prevails in yet another chapter of the, always competitive, Battle of Ontario<\/em>.<\/p>\n

One Potential Ottawa Senators Difference-Maker from the Backend<\/h3>\n

From an Ottawa Senators perspective on this series, Tyler Kleven<\/a> is really coming into his own. He is a tough and physical defenceman, always a good trait for a defensive defenceman. But also, he has a hard slapshot from the point, is a smooth, powerful skater, and can make offensively-minded plays with the puck. He brings a lot to his game. So naturally, as defenders take longer to mature and plus the added layer of complexity with Kleven’s all-around potential, it makes sense his development has been a work-in-progress. In any sense, if the Sens are to make noise in this series still, he is an imperative part of their complete roster. Sen fans might point to a couple plays in particular. Kleven clearing one off the line or lowering the big Ka-Boom!<\/p>\n