TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs closed their pre-season campaign with a split-squad sweep of the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday, rolling to a dominant 6-1 victory at Scotiabank Arena and earning a 4-2 win at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa to head into the 2026-27 NHL regular season on a high.
Toronto controlled the home game from the offensive zone, hemming Ottawa in and moving the puck smoothly despite the Senators dressing Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson and Shane Pinto. The shot totals finished 36-14 in favor of the Leafs and the scoreboard followed. John Tavares, Jack Roslovic and Auston Matthews each finished with three points, while Gavin McKenna and William Nylander each posted a plus-three rating with one assist. Zack MacEwen also got on the scoresheet in the balanced attack.
Not all news was positive at Scotiabank Arena. Third-line winger Nick Paul — who has been skating with Easton Cowan and Colton Sissons in camp on a line expected to take tough assignments — left early after just six shifts and 4:42 of ice time with an undisclosed issue. Head coach Jim Hiller downplayed the severity afterward, saying, "Yeah, we'll know tomorrow. I don't think it's too serious. I talked to him after, but we'll know a little bit more tomorrow." Matthew Knies was also held without a point for the second straight pre-season game, finishing with one shot, an even rating and 17:48 of ice time after posting one shot and a minus-two in 20:22 against Montreal on Saturday. "I thought he was better tonight," Hiller said. "He wasn't that dangerous. I think he only ended up with one shot on goal. Took one to the net. So I think this has been okay. I wouldn't say strongly one way or the other. I think there's more there for sure."
The road game in Ottawa provided a different look, with four fights breaking out. Landon Sim started the night with a scrap against Matthew Andonovski, Brendan Brisson challenged Sammy Blais after Blais laid a heavy hit on Nick Blankenburg, Brandon Duhaime fought Cameron Crotty 33 seconds into the final frame, and Sim dropped the gloves again with Nick Cousins to close the parade of fighting majors. Behind the physicality, Henrik Rybinski opened the scoring with his second goal of the pre-season.
Toronto also continued roster trimming Wednesday, placing a pair of defensemen on NHL waivers and sending several others to Toronto Marlies training camp, the ECHL's Cincinnati Cyclones and the CHL as the club finalizes its opening-night roster.