Benoit scores in OT to give the Maple Leafs a 3-2 win over the Senators and a 3-0 series lead

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Toronto Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies (23) celebrates after the winning goal with teammates Simon Benoit (2), Auston Matthews (34) and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (95) during overtime against the Ottawa Senators in Game 3 of the first round of NHL hockey playoff series action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Toronto Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies (23), celebrates his goal with John Tavares (91) and Auston Matthews (34) as Ottawa Senators’ Artem Zub (2) skates past during the second period of Game 3 in the first round of NHL hockey playoff series action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) pokes the puck off the stick of Ottawa Senators’ Nick Cousins (21) during the second period of Game 3 in the first round of NHL hockey playoff series action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Toronto Maple Leafs’ Bobby McMann, left, sends Ottawa Senators’ Tim Stutzle, center, into linesman Trent Knorr, right, as they collide along the boards during the second period of Game 3 in the first round of NHL hockey playoff series action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Senators’ Fabian Zetterlund (20) tries to regain control of the bouncing puck against Toronto Maple Leafs’ Chris Tanev (8) and Simon Benoit (2) during the second period of Game 3 in the first round of NHL hockey playoff series action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) watches the puck as it goes in the net on a shot by Ottawa Senators’ Claude Giroux (not shown) as Maple Leafs’ Chris Tanev (8) and Senators’ Brady Tkachuk (7) watch during the second period of Game 3 in the first round of NHL hockey playoff series action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk (7) screens Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) as the Senators score during the second period of Game 3 in the first round of NHL hockey playoff series action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Senators’ Ridly Greig (71) falls after clashing along the boards with Toronto Maple Leafs’ William Nylander (88) during the first period of Game 3 in the first round of NHL hockey playoff series action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Toronto Maple Leafs’ Steven Lorentz (18) loses his stick as he is checked by Ottawa Senators’ Tyler Kleven (43) during the first period of Game 3 in the first round of NHL hockey playoff series action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Toronto Maple Leafs’ Max Domi (11) looks for a chance against Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) as Senators’ Drake Batherson (19) defends during the first period of Game 3 in the first round of NHL hockey playoff series action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) makes a save in front of Toronto Maple Leafs’ Pontus Holmberg (29) as Senators’ Thomas Chabot (72) defends during the first period of Game 3 in the first round of NHL hockey playoff series action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk (7) falls on Toronto Maple Leafs’ William Nylander (88) as he works to take the puck from Nylander during the first period of Game 3 in the first round of NHL hockey playoff series action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

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OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Simon Benoit scored on a slap shot from the point at 1:19 of overtime to give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators and a 3-0 lead in the first-round series.

“I just lifted both of my arms and didn’t move,” Benoit said. “I saw all those guys coming towards me. Good feeling.”

Auston Matthews won a faceoff back to Benoit at the left point, and the defenseman fired a low shot through traffic that beat goalie Linus Ullmark to far post.

“It’s always great when a guy like that scores a big goal,” Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “Benny’s played extremely well for us defensively, and been hard to play against and does all those things.”

Toronto also won 3-2 in overtime — on Max Domi’s early goal — at home Tuesday night. Game 4 is Saturday night in Ottawa.

“One thing I know about our team is we’re not going to lay down,” Ottawa coach Travis Green said. “We’re not going to go away. We’re going to be ready to play.”

Matthews and Matthew Knies also scored for Toronto, and Anthony Stolarz made 18 saves.

Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux scored for Ottawa. Ullmark stopped 17 shots.

Tkachuk tied it at 2 for Ottawa with 8:38 left in regulation. On a rush, he beat Stolarz with a low wrist shot from the high slot.

Matthews gave Toronto a 2-1 lead 32 seconds into the third, scoring from close range off Mitch Marner’s pass from behind the goal.

The teams traded power-play goals in the second period. Giroux opened the scoring for Ottawa at 1:38, and Knies tied it at 8:31.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl