Senators beat Leafs 3-2 in opener, Sanderson leaves with injury
Thomas Chabot scores first goal as new captain; backup defenceman leaves after first period with lower-body injury as Ottawa looks to make playoffs for third straight spring.
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The Ottawa Senators won their season opener Saturday night, defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Thomas Chabot, the franchise's first captain to score in his first game wearing the C, opened the scoring at 18:51 of the first period and added an assist. Stephen Halliday netted the third-period winner at 9:48, and Michael Amadio also scored. Claude Giroux contributed two assists. Linus Ullmark made 27 stops in goal.
The win gives Ottawa a strong start to the season. The Senators are targeting a third consecutive playoff appearance.
The game was tempered by injury. Defenceman Jake Sanderson left after the first period with a lower-body injury — the same issue that forced him out of a preseason game against Montreal on September 26. Coach Travis Green said further examination is scheduled for Sunday. Artem Zub is already out to start the season, leaving Ottawa to finish the game with five defencemen, including rookie Carter Yakemchuk.
Chabot said after the game that Sanderson "was devastated on the bench when he told me about it. He's going to put everything he can into it and he'll be back in no time."
The Senators held the Leafs to 1-for-4 on the power play.
The facts
Who scored the season-opening goal for Ottawa?
Thomas Chabot scored first, at 18:51 of the first period. Chabot is the Senators' new captain and the franchise's first captain to score in his first game wearing the C.
What was the final score?
Ottawa defeated Toronto 3-2 at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Which Ottawa defenceman was injured during the game?
Jake Sanderson left after the first period with a lower-body injury. He had suffered the same injury in a preseason game against Montreal on September 26, 2026.
How many shots did Linus Ullmark face?
Linus Ullmark made 27 stops in goal for Ottawa.
