KANATA, Ont. — Jake Sanderson saved the season.
With the Ottawa Senators facing elimination, Sanderson scored the overtime winner Saturday against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs, leading to a collective exhale of joy from the team and fanbase.
The 4-3 win ensures there will be no sweep in the latest edition of the Battle of Ontario.
“No, I’m not exhausted,” said Sanderson after playing his third consecutive overtime game while being on the ice for over 30 minutes — the most of any Senator.
Sanderson was going to have be a pivotal player if Ottawa was going to have any chance to beat the Leafs. The Senators need Sanderson to be the best defenceman in the series if they want to complete a miraculous comeback. He was on Saturday.
When the Senators were down a man for four minutes in overtime, Sanderson jumped over the boards.
On multiple occasions, Sanderson intercepted pucks, moved Leafs players away from the front of the net and allowed goaltender Linus Ullmark and the post (on one Auston Matthews chance) to do the work on his one minute, 51-second shift. Hunched over, Sanderson took a quick breather. Moments later, he sprinted off the bench to the offensive blueline to immediately fire it on goal through a maze of bodies to win the game.
“Probably No. 1,” said Sanderson where he’d rank the goal.
Not a bad time and way to score your first career playoff goal.
The overtime period showed how much Sanderson has grown at both ends of the ice.
“When I first took the job, I knew he was a good player,” said coach Travis Green. “When I saw him in training camp, I knew he was a really good player. And now, if you ask me today, he’s an exceptional player.”
Earlier this season, Tim Stutzle said Sanderson could be one of the top two defencemen in the world.
“He’s a special player,” said Stutzle, post-game.
Sanderson set up Stutzle on a platter for the Senators’ opening goal on the power play, another area where the defenceman has improved. Sanderson finished second in the league in power-play points by a defenceman this season.
When Stutzle was asked where he’d rank Sanderson now, he said: “You want me to say something, right?”
Teammate David Perron immediately jumped in: “No. 1 after that goal tonight.”
He has been Ottawa’s best defenceman this season by a wide margin. Sanderson earned the most points by a blue-liner in a single Ottawa season since Erik Karlsson in 2017-18.
Meanwhile, Sanderson was 26th among defenceman (to have played at least 1,000 minutes) in expected goals allowed at 2.31 at five-on-five. Sanderson and partner Artem Zub had the 12th-best expected goals in the season of any pairing that played over 500 minutes during the regular season. In this playoff series, Sanderson’s been tasked with shutting down Mitch Marner and Matthews, who have combined for two goals, including one where Sanderson wasn’t on the ice, in four games.
Sanderson also is tied for the team lead in playoff scoring.
“Every single day, he’s probably the best defenceman on the ice,” said Brady Tkachuk.
Game 4 looked much different than the previous three games. The Senators had the better goaltender, better special teams and were better at creating high-danger chances,.
“I haven’t looked at the analytics, I’m going to bet that we’ve outchanced them tonight,” said Green.
Despite getting outshot 34-21, the Senators had 13 high-danger chances to Toronto’s five at five-on-five. In the first three games, Toronto had been outshot by Ottawa but Toronto had the edge in high-danger chances.
Meanwhile, the Senators penalty kill, which was firing below 50 per cent while allowing five goals in the first three games, turned things around. The Senators managed to survive all four penalties, including the double minor for high sticking on Drake Batherson in overtime.
“Don’t know if it was a boost, but relief,” said Green of the penalty kill. “You know, anytime a team like Toronto gets a four-minute power play, you’re in (a tough spot).”
Ottawa overcame its biggest weakness at the biggest moment of the season.
“Our kill stepped up absolutely when we needed them in a do-or-die situation,” said Tkachuk.
Throw in an Ottawa power-play goal and the Senators won the special-teams battle on Saturday. That’s recipe for playoff success.
“What a kill,” said Tkachuk. “I mean, always your most important killer is the goalie, Ullmark made some absolutely unbelievable saves to keep us in that one.”
For the first time all series, Ullmark had a save percentage above .900 with 31 saves on Saturday night. He made multiple saves in tight on Matthews and William Nylander during the OT double minor.
“He won a Vezina,” said Stutzle, reminding the media post-game about his netminder’s resume.
“I thought Linus really showed what he’s all about tonight,” said Green, adding there had been a lot of doubters about Ullmark “including in this (media) room.”
As for overtime, Green offered a simple message to his charges before yet another extra period.
“Play with no regrets,” he said.
The hurdle of finding a way to win in extra time is gone for the Senators. This team finally has a playoff victory for the first time since 2017.
The Senators have put the pressure back on a Leafs team that has folded more than thrived in the playoffs. The longer the series goes, the more pressure Toronto faces.
If the Senators can steal Game 5 in Toronto, suddenly things get very interesting.
Kleven making strides
Tyler Kleven has emerged as a playoff player. Kleven on Saturday night was poised, physical while saving a goal and setting up one.
Kleven’s newfound flare allowed him to jump up in overtime to create a chance that bounced immediately to Sanderson for the overtime winner.
“He was feeling it,” said Sanderson about Kleven’s play in Game 4.
Sanderson and Kleven also played together at the University of North Dakota.
“His role is going to elevate I think, as the playoffs go on, just because of how good he’s playing.”
Green also praised Kleven.
“His game is really growing, and it’s taken off probably since Christmas,” said the coach.
“Give him a lot of credit,” added Green. “He’s stood tall (under) a little pressure, and really has been growing into his own. He’s big, he’s physical, he’s smart.”
“We’re seeing him grow and even take another step with his confidence and his ability.”
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