In Game 1, the Ottawa Senators experienced a penalty disparity against the Toronto Maple Leafs, which Toronto capitalized on.
Ottawa conceded three power-play goals in the opening game of the series and accumulated 38 penalty minutes in their 6-2 defeat.
When questioned about the penalty decisions, Senators head coach Travis Green emphasized the need for his team to avoid penalties. However, he also implied that factors beyond mere undisciplined play contributed to the number of penalties called against his team.
Green stated to reporters post-game, “We must avoid penalties, without a doubt. While games can become heated, I felt some calls were influenced by Toronto`s ability to draw penalties. It`s challenging for referees, but we simply can`t afford to take that many penalties.”
During the regular season, the Senators were notable for drawing a league-leading 349 penalties. In contrast, Game 1 saw the Maple Leafs with a 6-2 advantage in power plays.
Despite the loss, Senators captain Brady Tkachuk believes the team`s Game 1 performance was strong enough to win, suggesting that fewer penalties could have altered the game`s outcome.
Tkachuk commented, “The result is not what we wanted, but the issue is clear: we took too many penalties, they scored, and that was the game. That`s on us. We need more discipline. First game jitters or mistakes are understandable, but moving forward, our mindset remains unchanged.”
The Senators are set to play Game 2 on Tuesday night, aiming to even the series.
