​The Battle of Ontario isn’t over yet and is heating up in the 2025 NHL Playoffs. While the Toronto Maple Leafs initially led the series against the all-time rivals Ottawa Senators, it looks like the tables have turned now. Because Brady Tkachuk and his Sens have just mounted a strong comeback with back-to-back wins in the last two matches. And it has only left the Maple Leaf’s head coach, Craig Berube, to put some spirits back while he steps up to boost the team’s morale. “Let’s go. Ready to go. Business. Let’s go,” said Berube while the team had a morning skate that somehow revealed positive updates for the Sen’s comeback!

Well, it happened just before Game 6 that a remarkable update got shared on X. “The Leafs morning skate lasted only 11 minutes,” TSN 1200 Ottawa network made a post. Wait, does that mean that the Maple Leafs wrapped up their morning skate in a blink? That’s true for Auston Matthews and his squad; while it didn’t hint at anything as such, perhaps it was the routine. Was it fatigue, pressure, or some sort of strategy? Either way, it opened new hopes for the Sens.

After all, the horror just stepped in when the Leafs dropped the last two games! And now, it’s Tkachuk who’s fueling the Senators’ comeback with his bold performances. “Expecting big things, I mean, like I said, this is not just about our team; it’s about our city. You can feel the excitement and we’re gonna need it tonight,” Brady Tkachuk reflected after a massive 4-0 win against the rivals, alongside offering a goal and two assists. And now with the Leafs’ quick morning exit, it just adds another crack to the ice that’s already melting.

Despite the Sens’ optimism and success, their rival captain has made a revelation, however. “You just try to block all that stuff out. The main focus is on the guys in the room, on the team, and on playing for one another,” the captain, who’s been at the heart of his team’s playoff hopes for years, made it very clear. “That’s really all there is to it. All the outside noise, all that stuff, it is what it is. It’s not something that you focus on at all,” he further quoted while picturing the ultimate goal. But to shake things up, Coach Berube has shuffled the deck—perhaps to bring back the lost charm!

Confident Brady Tkachuk faces a new challenge!

Amidst all the positive updates that include a mix of playoff hopes and splendid performances, Tkachuk might face this new change brought by the Maple Leafs into their lineup as challenging. With Game 6 approaching, it starts at the top that Max Pacioretty is moved up to the second line alongside John Tavares and William Nylander—a shake-up that was spotted during the team’s morning skate. Well, it certainly wasn’t the fatigue or pressure that didn’t allow Matthews and his mates to skate a bit longer. Perhaps what followed was a strategic switch!

And not only that, but Pontus Holmberg too got dropped down to center the fourth line with Max Domi and Bobby McMann. “There is always debate about lineup changes. Max had some really good stretches with those guys before he got hurt (in February). Big guy, strong, physical, good around the net, so that was the decision,” Berube stated while not leaving much room for overthinking on the lineup decisions. Perhaps this could be exactly that the team needs to shift their momentum in a must-win match, right?

Now with both teams getting significantly ready to face off for what is going to be the last one of the season—the Battle of Ontario—it could be either one of them who would continue to dominate this season. While Matthews is all set with a new lineup and good practice sessions, Tkachuk isn’t sitting still because his hype speaks for the Sens when he said, “I’ve been looking forward to this game; right when game 5 ended, I said that this was gonna be exciting; of course it’s a big one; season’s on the line again after tonight. So it’s gonna be fun.”

Who’s going to make it tonight? Let us know!