The Maple Leafs would head into game 3 with a chance to take a stranglehold on the Ottawa Senators, having a chance to take a 3-0 series lead.
Max Pacioretty would draw back into the Leafs’ lineup replacing Nick Robertson on the third line sending a heavier message the the Buds’ bottom six.
Canadian Tire Centre would be rocking from the start of puck drop ready for the teams to take the ice and get game 3 rolling.
In the first period, Ottawa would once again find themselves outshooting the Leafs early but the play of Leafs’ netminder Anthony Stolarz would keep this game goalless.
Both teams would trade chances but no one would be able to break the ice.
The Leafs would get a late powerplay to end the period, but Matthew Knies would take a penalty right at the period’s end, so 4-on-4 hockey would start the middle frame.
In the second period, William Nylander would be sent to the box giving the Sens a partial 5-on-3 opportunity where they would be able to convert as Claude Giroux would get his first of the series and give the Ottawa a 1-0 lead.
It wouldn’t take too long for the Leafs to answer as they would get a chance with their first power play of the game which has been red hot in this first round.
Knies would send one in front that would tip off a Senator’s skate and into the back of the net tying the game 1-1.
The teams would head into the final frame tied in a close tilt.
In the third period, the Leafs would strike with a slick feed from Mitch Marner to Auston Matthews who would make no mistake and give Toronto a 2-1 lead.
Although the Leafs would shut down the Sens limiting them to zero shots early in the third, Brady Tkachuk would tie the game with Ottawa’s first shot of the period.
Just like game 2, this one would once again be headed to overtime tied 2-2 with one team looking to go up 3-0, and the other looking to get their first win of the series.
History would repeat itself once again as the Leafs would close the game out quickly from an unsung hero as Simon Benoit would send one in from the point that would find a way past Linus Ullmark which would ultimately give the Buds a 3-2 overtime win.
After the game, Benoit would describe his feelings on his overtime winner.
“I did not quite know how to react, to be honest, I just lifted both of my arms and didn’t move and saw those guys (Maple Leafs teammates) coming towards me, so good feeling,” he said.
This would give the Leafs a 3-0 series lead, which hasn’t happened for Toronto since 2001.
“You can’t be satisfied with where you’re at now, the next one is gonna be the hardest and we gotta be ready for that,” Marner said when asked about taking a 3-0 series lead. 
The Maple Leafs will have a chance to close out the series with a sweep while the Senators will try to battle elimination on Saturday I what could potentially be the final game of the Battle of Ontario.
