Over twenty years ago, a regular-season game witnessed Toronto Maple Leafs` Travis Green gesturing and shouting towards Ottawa`s bench, sparking complete mayhem. Darcy Tucker famously reached over the boards to trade punches with Chris Neil, igniting a massive brawl with penalties totaling 74 minutes. Tucker, Neil, Tie Domi, and Shane Hnidy were all ejected from the game.
This was the Battle of Ontario at its fiercest. This incident followed three consecutive playoff series between these provincial rivals, and they clashed again the following season, with Toronto emerging victorious in all four series.
Now, after a 21-year playoff hiatus, the Battle of Ontario is renewed in 2025, featuring some familiar faces.
Travis Green, the instigator from that bench incident, now coaches the Senators. Neil and Daniel Alfredsson, key figures from that era, are part of Ottawa`s management. For Toronto, a Domi is still on the ice – this time, Tie`s son, Max.
Considering the nostalgic backdrop of this series, let`s revisit a defining moment from each of the last four Toronto-Ottawa playoff encounters before the Battle of Ontario resumes with Game 1 in Toronto on Sunday night.
2000: Thomas the Clutch Hero
The 2000 Eastern Conference first round was tied 2-2 as the series returned to Toronto. Game 5 went into overtime, featuring a spectacular goaltending duel between Toronto’s Curtis Joseph and Ottawa’s Tom Barrasso, with incredible saves from both.
Then, Toronto`s Steve Thomas lived up to his reputation for clutch performances.
Just over 14 minutes into overtime, Joseph`s risky play behind his net nearly cost Toronto the game. However, Danny Markov cleared the puck to Sergei Berezin, who sped up the ice.
Thomas, who had earlier tied the game late in the third, raced down the right wing alongside Berezin. Outpacing a Senators defender, Thomas deflected Berezin`s cross-ice pass past Barrasso for the win.
This was one of Thomas`s six goals in the series and one of his 78 career game-winning goals. Over 18% of his goals were game-winners, compared to Alex Ovechkin`s (the all-time leader) 15%.
Thomas was indeed a clutch player.
2001: Cujo Inspires a Sweep
The Leafs and Senators met again in the first round, with Toronto as the underdog, seeded seventh in the East against Ottawa`s second. Ottawa also held a 5-0 regular-season record against Toronto.
Curtis Joseph turned the tables. In Game 1, he delivered a 36-save shutout in a 1-0 overtime victory. In Game 2, despite being heavily outshot, Joseph again shut out the Senators with 37 saves.
Joseph, at 33, set the tone for the series.
Toronto swept Ottawa, with Joseph`s first-round stats being remarkable: three goals allowed on 123 shots, a .976 save percentage.
2002: Alfredsson’s Controversial Seven Seconds
The 2002 Eastern Conference semifinals saw Ottawa`s captain, Daniel Alfredsson, intensify the rivalry, becoming a villain for Leafs fans. Game 5 was tied 2-2 late in the game. With just over two minutes remaining, Darcy Tucker was battling for the puck when Alfredsson hit him from behind. Tucker fell injured as Ottawa moved the puck, and Alfredsson scored.
While Ottawa celebrated, Tucker was attended to by medical staff, amidst boos from Toronto fans and protests from the Leafs about the missed penalty.
The goal stood, giving Ottawa a 3-2 series lead.
Tucker missed the following three games and later revealed to Sportsnet that he suffered a broken shoulder.
Game 6 also involved a hit from behind, this time by Ricard Persson on Domi, resulting in a major penalty. Toronto capitalized on the power play and won the game and series.
Big hits were pivotal in the 2002 series.
2004: Ottawa Shifts the Momentum… Briefly
Their last playoff encounter in 2004 was prefaced by an incident where Ottawa’s Alfredsson mocked Toronto’s Mats Sundin, who had broken his stick and received a suspension. Alfredsson pretended to throw his own stick into the stands during a game.
The rivalry was intense.
In the 2004 first round, Toronto led 3-2 heading back to Ottawa. The Senators had a 0-3 record in elimination games against Toronto.
Game 6 went to double overtime. Antoine Vermette set up Mike Fisher for the game-winner, securing Ottawa`s first playoff elimination game win against Toronto.
Owner Eugene Melnyk famously declared post-game, “We’re gonna kill ‘em,” according to reporter Wayne Scanlan.
However, Ottawa didn`t. Toronto won Game 7 decisively, 4-1, led by two early goals from Joe Nieuwendyk.
That`s history. Starting Sunday at 7 p.m. ET, the Senators and Maple Leafs face off in the NHL playoffs again. Let the Battle of Ontario begin!
Tristan Blackwood