Ottawa has taken a step forward this season, making this edition of the Sens-Leafs rivalry one of the most relevant meetings in years.

The Senators are making a strong push for the playoffs and they can’t afford to give up any ground in an Eastern conference wild-card race that sees five teams separated by a single point.

Toronto is also clawing for ground as they look to continue holding off Florida for top spot in the Atlantic Division.

This game opened as a pick’em on the NHL odds, with the total pegged at 6.0.

Maple Leafs vs. Senators NHL Betting Odds

This is the second of three regular season meetings between the teams. Ottawa struck first with a 3-0 win in Toronto on Nov. 12 for their third straight victory in head-to-head action. The teams also play back in Toronto on March 15 and there’s a legit shot they will meet in the first round of the playoffs.

The Leafs have been surprisingly strong on the road in recent weeks, winning six of their last seven games away from Scotiabank Arena. On the flip side, Ottawa should be happy to be back at Canadian Tire Centre, where they have posted a 12-7-2 record this year.

These teams trend in completely different directions as cover options. While Toronto is a healthy 26-23 against the spread, the Sens are an abysmal 19-29 ATS, including 7-14 ATS at home.

The Maple Leafs have split the Over/Under almost evenly this season, but it’s a different story for Ottawa. The Senators have played the Under in 28 of 48 games, including 10 of their last 11.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto’s 5-1 home loss to Columbus on Wednesday was a game to forget. Auston Matthews was the lone bright spot with his 20th goal of the season. Matthews has been red-hot lately, scoring in five straight games and seven of his last eight. A big issue on Wednesday was the play of Dennis Hildeby, who struggled heavily while allowing four goals on just 18 shots. Hildeby has been sent down to the minors with Matt Murray coming up to backup Joseph Woll until Anthony Stolarz is healthy.

The Leafs appear to have dodged a bullet with Matthew Knies, who left the game against Columbus with an upper-body injury. Knies will likely miss at least Saturday’s game, but he’s been listed as day-to-day, so there’s hope the injury is nothing serious.

When it comes to a starter in net, it should be Woll back between the pipes. Woll stoped 27 of 30 shots faced in a 5-3 win over Tampa Bay on Monday. It was the 26-year-old’s career-high 24th start of the season. Although Woll has won three straight starts and eight of his last 10, there is concern the heavier workload could be affecting him as he’s allowed at least three goals in five straight games.

Ottawa Senators

The Sens managed 29 shots on net in a 2-0 loss in Boston on Thursday, but couldn’t solve former teammate Joonas Korpisalo. Anton Forsberg looked good, allowing just one goal on 25 shots. Ottawa has been shut out in two straight games and five of their last 11. The noise around the lack of offensive production is starting to target captain Brady Tkachuk, who is pointless in nine straight games. Tkachuk hasn’t scored or produced a point since an overtime loss to Detroit on Jan. 7.

The Senators made a minor move on Friday, signing longtime NHL veteran Sam Gagner to a professional tryout. The 35-year-old hasn’t played in the NHL this season, although he did serve as Canada’s captain at the Spengler Cup. Gagner will start in the AHL with Ottawa’s affiliate, the Belleville Senators.

There’s been no word on a starter in net between Forsberg and Leevi Merilainen. Both goalies have kept the Senators afloat in the absence of Linus Ullmark, who remains without a timeline to return from a back injury. For the season, Forsberg is 5-9-1 with a 2.92 goals-against average and .889 save percentage. Merilainen is 6-3-1 with a 2.32 GAA and .914 SV.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Maple Leafs vs. Senators?

• Regular Season

Maple Leafs Team Leaders

TOR

Points	Mitch Marner 80
+ / -	Jake McCabe 21
Shots	William Nylander 213
Penalty Mins	Max Domi 49
Wins	Joseph Woll 22
GAA	Anthony Stolarz 2.37

OTT

Points	Tim Stutzle 67
+ / -	Nick Jensen 17
Shots	Brady Tkachuk 262
Penalty Mins	Brady Tkachuk 112
Wins	Linus Ullmark 17
GAA	Leevi Merilainen 1.99

• Regular Season

Senators Team Leaders

TOR

Points	Mitch Marner 80
+ / -	Jake McCabe 21
Shots	William Nylander 213
Penalty Mins	Max Domi 49
Wins	Joseph Woll 22
GAA	Anthony Stolarz 2.37

OTT

Points	Tim Stutzle 67
+ / -	Nick Jensen 17
Shots	Brady Tkachuk 262
Penalty Mins	Brady Tkachuk 112
Wins	Linus Ullmark 17
GAA	Leevi Merilainen 1.99

Injuries

Toronto

Steven Lorentz (C)

Ques Wed Undisclosed - 02 / 03 / 25

Joseph Woll (G)

Ques Sun Illness - 28 / 02 / 25

Max Pacioretty (LW)

Out Indefinitely Undisclosed - 20 / 02 / 25

Conor Timmins (D)

Ques Sat Upper Body - 05 / 02 / 25

Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D)

Ques Thurs Lower Body - 01 / 02 / 25

Matthew Knies (LW)

Prob Sat Upper Body - 23 / 01 / 25

Connor Dewar (C)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 21 / 01 / 25

Max Pacioretty (LW)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 20 / 01 / 25

John Tavares (C)

Prob Sat Lower Body - 15 / 01 / 25

Jake McCabe (D)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 06 / 01 / 25

Ottawa

Travis Hamonic (D)

Ques Sat Lower Body - 08 / 03 / 25

Tyler Kleven (D)

Ques Mar 10 Lower Body - 27 / 02 / 25

Thomas Chabot (D)

Ques Sat Hand - 18 / 02 / 25

Shane Pinto (C)

Ques Sat Upper Body - 05 / 02 / 25

Josh Norris (C)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 02 / 02 / 25

Nick Cousins (C)

Out indefinitely Lower Body - 25 / 01 / 25

Nick Jensen (D)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 24 / 01 / 25

Jake Sanderson (D)

Ques Sat Lower Body - 23 / 01 / 25

Josh Norris (C)

Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 22 / 01 / 25

Thomas Chabot (D)

Ques Sat Face - 15 / 01 / 25

Injuries

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Steven Lorentz (C)	Ques Wed	Undisclosed - 02 / 03 / 25	0-4	2-2	+ -
Lorentz is hampered with an undisclosed injury, and it is up in the air if he will participate against the Golden Knights on Wednesday.
Joseph Woll (G)	Ques Sun	Illness - 28 / 02 / 25	0-5	3-2	+ -
Woll is dealing with an illness, it is unclear if he will play against the Penguins on Sunday
Max Pacioretty (LW)	Out Indefinitely	Undisclosed - 20 / 02 / 25	2-6	5-3	+ -
Pacioretty has been placed on the long term injured reserve list with an undisclosed injury, and there is no timetable for return.
Conor Timmins (D)	Ques Sat	Upper Body - 05 / 02 / 25	5-6	7-4	+ -
Timmins suffered an upper body injury, and it is unclear if he will take part in Saturday's clash against the Hurricanes.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D)	Ques Thurs	Lower Body - 01 / 02 / 25	5-7	7-5	+ -
Ekman-Larsson missed the previous game with a lower body injury, and it has yet to be established if he will be active against the Kraken on Thursday.
Matthew Knies (LW)	Prob Sat	Upper Body - 23 / 01 / 25	6-9	8-7	+ -
Knies is nursing an upper-body injury, but he is likely to be active against the Oilers on Saturday.
Connor Dewar (C)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 21 / 01 / 25	7-9	9-7	+ -
Dewar has landed on the injured reserve list with an upper body injury, and he is without a definitive timetable for recovery.
Max Pacioretty (LW)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 20 / 01 / 25	7-9	9-7	+ -
Pacioretty has wound up on the injured reserve list due to an upper body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
John Tavares (C)	Prob Sat	Lower Body - 15 / 01 / 25	8-10	10-8	+ -
Tavares is dealing with a lower-body injury, but he is expected to be available against the Oilers on Saturday.
Jake McCabe (D)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 06 / 01 / 25	8-14	11-11	+ -
McCabe has wound up on the injured reserve list due to an upper body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.

Ottawa

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Travis Hamonic (D)	Ques Sat	Lower Body - 08 / 03 / 25	0-1	1-0	+ -
Hamonic missed the last four contests due to a lower body injury, and it is uncertain if he will play against the Maple Leafs on Saturday.
Tyler Kleven (D)	Ques Mar 10	Lower Body - 27 / 02 / 25	2-2	3-1	+ -
Kleven dealing with a lower body injury, and it is undetermined if he will suit up against the Red Wings on Monday, March 10th.
Thomas Chabot (D)	Ques Sat	Hand - 18 / 02 / 25	2-4	5-1	+ -
Chabot suffered a cut on his hand, and it remains to be seen if he will suit up against the Canadians on Saturday.
Shane Pinto (C)	Ques Sat	Upper Body - 05 / 02 / 25	3-5	7-1	+ -
Pinto is dealing with an upper-body injury, and it is uncertain if he will face the Sharks on Saturday.
Josh Norris (C)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 02 / 02 / 25	5-5	9-1	+ -
Norris is out of commission due to a mid-body injury, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Nick Cousins (C)	Out indefinitely	Lower Body - 25 / 01 / 25	7-7	10-4	+ -
Cousins underwent knee surgery, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Nick Jensen (D)	Ques Tues	Undisclosed - 24 / 01 / 25	7-7	10-4	+ -
Jensen is managing with an undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be established if he will suit up for Tuesday's clash against the Lightning.
Jake Sanderson (D)	Ques Sat	Lower Body - 23 / 01 / 25	7-8	10-5	+ -
Sanderson is nursing a lower body injury, and it has yet to be established if he will play against the Maple Leafs on Saturday.
Josh Norris (C)	Ques Thurs	Undisclosed - 22 / 01 / 25	7-8	10-5	+ -
Norris is nursing an undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be established if he will play against the Capitals on Thursday.
Thomas Chabot (D)	Ques Sat	Face - 15 / 01 / 25	10-10	11-9	+ -
Chabot exited the contest with a face injury, and it has yet to be established if he will play against the Bruins on Saturday.