In an electrifying NHL pre-season showdown, the Toronto Maple Leafs soared to a 4-3 victory against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Leafs lit up the scoreboard early, racing to a stunning 3-0 lead in the first period.

Calle Jarnkrok, Nicholas Robertson, and William Villeneuve each found the back of the net, putting Toronto in a commanding position. However, the Senators weren't going down without a fight.

Ridly Greig scored just 1:45 into the second period, igniting hope for Ottawa. But the mood shifted again as Matthew Barbolini restored the Leafs' cushion, making it 4-1 just moments later.

Despite the Senators’ attempts to rally back with goals from Arthur Kaliyev and Olle Lycksell, they fell short. That was as close as Ottawa would get, as Toronto's defense held strong.

On the goaltending front, Vyacheslav Peksa was solid in nets for the Leafs, making 16 saves on 18 shots, while Artur Akhtyamov turned away 16 of 17 shots in relief. For the Senators, Linus Ullmark faced a tough start, allowing three goals on just eight shots before Mads Sogaard stepped in, stopping 11 of 12 shots.

Next up, the Maple Leafs will host the Senators again on Tuesday at Scotiabank Centre, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting rematch.

NHL Highlights from Sunday

The action didn’t stop there! Elsewhere in the league, the Minnesota Wild pulled off a dramatic 3-2 overtime victory against the Winnipeg Jets, thanks to Yakov Trenin’s game-winning goal just under four minutes into OT.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Kraken showcased their offensive firepower, overpowering the Vancouver Canucks 5-3 with standout performances from Jani Nyman and Vince Dunn. The Kraken took control early and held on for the win.

The Calgary Flames also made headlines, splitting their squad to face the Edmonton Oilers in two tightly contested games. The Flames’ Morgan Frost was the star, scoring a clutch overtime goal that sealed a 3-2 victory in one match, while the Oilers blanked the Flames 3-0 in a separate contest.

As pre-season games heat up, fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming match-ups, full of suspense and excitement!