Max Domi was just a kid running around the then-named Air Canada Centre for the first Battle of Ontario playoffs series.
Now, some 20-odd years after being a mini-sticks menace in the hallways waiting for his father, Tie, Max Domi has put his own imprint on the provincial rivalry.
It was Domi who scored in overtime for a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators as the聽Maple Leafs took a two-games-to-none lead in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup first-round series.
MAX DOMI CALLS GAME 馃崄
鈥 NHL (@NHL)
He buries the OT winner and the have a 2-0 series lead!
鈥淏ig win,鈥 said Domi. 鈥淥bviously, we needed that one.鈥
It’s the first time since 2002 that the Maple Leafs have taken a 2-0 lead in a series. That was against the Islanders. Next up that year was a date with the Senators with a Leaf team that featured pesky centre Travis Green, now coach of the Senators.
鈥淓nergetic guy,鈥 Green said of Max Domi as a youngster. 鈥淵ou could tell he was going to be a good hockey player from a young age. And obviously, I know his dad well. I always like to see him have success, but obviously not tonight.鈥
That it was Domi聽鈥 with his father celebrating in the stands聽鈥 with the winner was almost poetic for the Toronto-raised forward who bled blue and white from a young age.
鈥淗e loves playing here,鈥 said centre John Tavares. 鈥淗e came in really excited to join the team last year. He really wanted to come back and found a way to make that work. We were all thrilled. It’s not just his skill set but the edge that he plays with, the passion he has for the game and his determination to get better and make an impact, and wanting to do something special here.
鈥淪o yeah, great for him. Obviously Max has got a great history here with his dad. A great moment for him.鈥
Tie had his own game-winning moment against the Senators in the first round of the playoffs, scoring the first goal in a 2-0 win at home on April 16, 2004.
Max and Tie Domi became the fifth father-son duo in NHL history to record a game-winning goal in the playoffs for the same franchise. They are also the first father-son duo in NHL history to score a game-winning goal for the same franchise against the same franchise.
Home ice
The Scotiabank Arena crowd was loud. They jeered Brady Tkachuk and Linus Ullmark. They wanted a celebration. Inside and outside, fans wanted a Game 2 that looked like Game 1.
In the first period, the Leafs did their best to do just that. The Leafs worked all season for home-ice advantage and they were going to use it.
Morgan Rielly and Tavares scored for the Maple Leafs a lively first period.
But credit Ottawa for taking over. Tkachuk scored a power play goal in an Ottawa dominated second to set up a tightly played third period.
BRADY TKACHUK SCORES HIS FIRST CAREER PLAYOFF GOAL TO GET THE SENS ON THE BOARD! 馃檶
鈥 Sportsnet (@Sportsnet)
Domi almost owned half of the goat horns as he and Oliver Ekman-Larsson failed to communicate on a drop pass that ended up on Tyler Kleven’s stick thanks to hard work by Tim St眉tzle. Kleven’s shot was deflected by ex-Marlie Adam Gaudette to force overtime.
ADAM GAUDETTE GETS A STICK ON IT, AND WE'VE GOT A TIE GAME! 馃毃
鈥 Sportsnet (@Sportsnet)
馃摵: Sportsnet
Then Domi won it with a wrist shot from 28 feet.
鈥淕reat to see that goal by Max,鈥 said Leafs coach Craig Berube. 鈥淚t’s a great feeling to score one of those. I’ve got a couple. I’m very happy for him. He’s a hard worker. He had a good game overall. He was skating. I always say when Max skates and attacks, he’s on his game.鈥
If you didn’t expect Domi to be the goal-scorer, you probably really didn’t expect Simon Benoit, better known as a stay-at-home defenceman, to lead the rush up the ice and make the play to set up Domi.
鈥淗eck of a play by Benny. He made that whole thing happen,鈥 said Domi. 鈥淕ot a little lucky and it squeaked through. Got to the hashmarks, you have to shoot it. Ullmark is a heck of a goalie, but we’ll take it.鈥
About the Sens
For Ottawa, rallying from an early 2-0 hole and then losing in overtime might feel like a lost opportunity. But Green didn’t see it that way.
鈥淎 lot of our guys haven’t played a lot of playoff hockey, so they haven’t lost a playoff game in that way, either,鈥 said Green. 鈥淲e talked about that quickly (after the game). We talked about that we had to play better. I really liked the way we played so it was a big step for our group. Looking forward to the next game.
Game 3 is Thursday in Ottawa, where Leaf fans are likely to fill the Canadian Tire Centre.
鈥淛ust realize it’s going to get even harder,鈥 said Marner. 鈥淢ake sure we get our rest. Focus on what we can do better.鈥
Toronto’s coach stuck with his five-forwards configuration and the team showed a sense of urgency with three goals on the man advantage against
Toronto’s coach stuck with his five-forwards configuration and the team showed a sense of urgency with three goals on the man advantage against
Stolarz vs. Ullmark
Neither goalie could be blamed for any of the regulation goals as Ullmark, in particular, quieted his critics with a bounce-back game. Rielly’s game-opener went off his skate on a shot by William Nylander. Tavares’s power play goal glanced off Ottawa defender Nick Jensen to beat Ullmark. Tkachuk’s goal went in off Leaf defenceman Brandon Carlo. And Gaudette deflected a shot he said he didn’t even see.
John Tavares extends the Leafs' lead with his 25th career playoff goal and 50th career playoff point 馃
鈥 Sportsnet (@Sportsnet)
馃摵: Senators vs. Maple Leafs on Sportsnet
Stolarz was the busier of the two, , and stopping 26 of 28 shots.
The Leafs had their chances late in the third. John Tavares muffed a breakaway. Ullmark snuffed Matt Knies.
For Ottawa, Dylan Cozens was robbed by Stolarz. Drake Batherson had the game on his stick, but couldn’t a shot away.
鈥淭hat’s playoff hockey,鈥 said Stolarz. 鈥淭he ebbs and flos. You have to weather the storm. You try not to give them too much. And it’s kind of on me as well to make a big save here and there.鈥
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation