Stephen Halliday scored at 9:46 of the third period to give the Ottawa Senators a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on October 3, 2026.

The victory opened Ottawa’s season with a road win over its provincial rival. It also came in the Senators’ first game under new captain Thomas Chabot.

The result was reported by the Ottawa Senators’ official game recap and the Toronto Maple Leafs’ official game report.

Ottawa turned a 2-2 game into a statement win with a late rebound goal, two points from its new captain and 27 saves from Linus Ullmark.

Halliday breaks the tie

Halliday converted a rebound after Fabian Zetterlund’s shot created a loose puck beside the net. The goal put Ottawa ahead and held up through the final minutes.

It was the decisive moment in a game that Toronto had twice managed to change direction.

Chabot starts his captaincy with two points

Chabot marked his first game as Senators captain with a goal and an assist. He opened the scoring at 18:52 of the first period, burying a rebound after Shane Pinto’s shot reached the net-front area.

Michael Amadio also scored for Ottawa. Ullmark stopped 27 shots, including a stretching save on William Nylander in the second period that kept the game level.

Toronto answered, but Ottawa finished stronger

Auston Matthews tied the game 33 seconds into the second period. Kirill Marchenko then put Toronto ahead with his first goal as a Maple Leaf.

Amadio restored the tie at 12:40 of the second period. Halliday’s late goal then settled the game.

  • Toronto went 1-for-4 on the power play.
  • The Maple Leafs killed all four Ottawa penalties.
  • Toronto controlled 43 percent of the faceoffs.
  • Ullmark made 27 saves for Ottawa.

The special-teams numbers were nearly even, but Ottawa won the most important exchange: the final lead of the night.

What the result means

Ottawa entered the season as the final NHL team to play its opener. The Senators left Toronto with a win built around a new captain, a timely goal from Halliday and a steady performance from Ullmark.

For Ottawa, the 3-2 result offered an early test of composure in a tight road game. For Toronto, it extended a difficult opening stretch in which each of the club’s first three games had been decided by one goal.

That narrow margin is the clearest takeaway from the opening stretch. Toronto has stayed within reach, but Ottawa made the late play that changed the standings outcome.