The Ottawa Senators open their 2026-27 season against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, October 3, with puck drop set for 7 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. It is Ottawa’s first game of the year, while Toronto is trying to respond after a 3-2 loss to Montreal in its opener.
That setup gives this rivalry game immediate weight. Ottawa wants to start strong on the road, and Toronto needs a cleaner effort in front of its own fans.
Why this matchup matters right away
This is the ninth time in franchise history that Ottawa has opened a season against Toronto, which adds another layer to an already familiar provincial rivalry. The Senators also begin the year with three straight road games, so a good result in Toronto would help them build momentum before trips to Boston and Detroit.
Toronto, meanwhile, already showed both its promise and its problems in the opener against Montreal. The Leafs created pressure early, but turnovers in their own zone changed the game and left them looking for a quicker reset.
Toronto needs cleaner puck management
The Maple Leafs started fast against Montreal and got on the board almost immediately. William Nylander scored both Toronto goals, including the first goal of the season and a late third-period marker that kept the game close.
Even so, the night exposed issues that Toronto cannot ignore. Defensive-zone giveaways gave Montreal extra chances, and head coach Jim Hiller pointed to those mistakes as a major reason the Leafs came up short.
Against Ottawa, the margin for error may be even smaller. The Senators have enough speed and finishing ability to turn a single mistake into a dangerous rush the other way.
Nylander and Matthews give Toronto its biggest edge
William Nylander already looks in rhythm, and that matters after his two-goal opening night. He was one of Toronto’s few consistent bright spots against Montreal and remains a threat every time he attacks off the rush.
Auston Matthews still changes the tone of Toronto’s offense, though. Even with Nylander off to the hot start, Ottawa’s defensive plan has to begin with Matthews because he can punish loose coverage from almost anywhere inside the offensive zone.
Toronto’s attack also looks different this season because of several new additions, including Sergei Bobrovsky, Gavin McKenna, Nick Paul, Jack Roslovic, Teddy Blueger and Colton Sissons. That kind of turnover means chemistry will matter almost as much as talent in these early games.
Gavin McKenna gets another spotlight game
McKenna’s NHL debut against Montreal was modest, but it still drew plenty of attention. The No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft logged one shot in 15:19 of ice time, and Toronto is clearly easing him into a lineup full of established scorers.
That situation can help a rookie. With Matthews, Nylander and John Tavares around him, McKenna does not need to carry the offense immediately.
Ottawa should provide a tougher physical test than a first-night debut often does. If the young forward can handle pressure and still create a few clean looks, it will say plenty about how quickly he is adjusting.
Ottawa enters a new phase without Brady Tkachuk
The Senators arrive with a different identity after losing former captain Brady Tkachuk in an offseason trade to Florida. That change shifts more responsibility onto the rest of Ottawa’s core, both in scoring and leadership.
Tim Stützle becomes even more central because of that. He led the Senators with 34 goals last season, while Drake Batherson was right behind him with 33. Dylan Cozens added 28, and Shane Pinto chipped in 23, giving Ottawa a group that can score if it stays organized.
Stützle’s speed is one of Ottawa’s biggest weapons. If Toronto coughs up the puck in the wrong areas, he is the kind of player who can turn transition chances into immediate danger.
Batherson, Eklund and the rest of Ottawa’s scoring group
Drake Batherson is another player Toronto cannot let drift into open space near the net. His 33 goals and 71 points last season show that he can finish chances at a high rate, especially if he gets extra looks because of Toronto’s defensive mistakes.
Ottawa also added William Eklund, who produced 53 points for San Jose last season. Along with Andre Burakovsky, who has been tested alongside Stützle and Batherson, he gives the Senators more ways to attack than they had before.
That depth could matter if the game opens up. A top six built around Stützle, Batherson, Eklund, Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund gives Ottawa real pace and enough creativity to make Toronto defend in waves.
Ullmark could be the difference in goal
Linus Ullmark is another major reason Ottawa believes it can compete in this kind of matchup. He finished last season strongly, going 12-4-3 with a 2.51 goals-against average over his final 19 games after the Olympic break.
If that version of Ullmark shows up again, Ottawa will feel much better about its chances. Toronto’s top scorers do not need many clean looks to do damage, so the Senators may need a steady performance from their goalie if the Leafs establish long offensive-zone shifts.
What each side has to get right
Toronto’s path is pretty clear. The Leafs need to cut down on giveaways, keep Matthews involved, keep feeding Nylander, and avoid putting too much pressure on Bobrovsky to rescue broken plays. They also need time to settle the new pieces into a more stable rhythm.
Ottawa has a different checklist. The Senators need to attack Toronto’s turnovers, use Stützle’s acceleration to stretch the ice, and keep bodies in front of Bobrovsky to make the crease messy. They also have to stay disciplined, because repeated power plays would give Toronto’s stars too many chances to take over.
What should decide the game
This battle looks likely to turn on pace and puck security rather than one single highlight moment. Toronto has the home crowd, elite finishing talent and a chance to erase the sour taste of its first loss. Ottawa has speed, depth and an opportunity to catch a still-forming Leafs lineup before it fully settles.
If Toronto starts on time and plays a cleaner game in its own zone, it can control the night. If Ottawa turns those mistakes into quick transition chances, this rivalry opener could become far less predictable very quickly.
Who has the best chance to score
Nylander is Toronto’s hottest option after his two-goal performance against Montreal. Matthews remains the most dangerous pure scorer on either side, though, because he can finish chances from tight angles and limited space.
For Ottawa, Stützle looks like the most likely driver of offense, while Batherson has the finishing touch to punish any lapse by Toronto. That combination gives the Senators real balance even without Tkachuk.
Saturday night should offer an early look at how both teams will handle the season’s pressure points. The Leafs need a response, and the Senators want to announce themselves immediately.