Senators win Battle of Ontario

How to watch: Sportsnet / TVAS

How to listen: TSN 1200 / Unique FM 94,5

When: 7 p.m. EST

Where: Scotiabank Arena

Well we're back from the holiday break and ready to get right back to where we left off. The Senators went into the break with a statement overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at home and will look to carry that momentum into tonight, the third battle of Ontario of the season.

The first two battles of Ontario have been taken by the road team, with the Senators winning in commanding fashion here at Scotiabank Arena back on Nov. 11 when after a back-and-forth game was tied 3-3 in the third, the Senators broke it open and scored three straight and never looked back. When the Maple Leafs came to Ottawa at the beginning of the month it looked like the Maple Leafs were going to walk away with a 4-2 win before the Senators got a late goal from Claude Giroux and nearly a second late goal with the empty net from Josh Norris. However, Toronto walked away from that one.

Related news:

• Game Day 5: OTT at TOR
• Senators Holiday Visit: Roger Neilson House
• Watch: Angus Crookshank's debut
• Senators Holiday Visit: Ronald McDonald House
• Senators prevail over Penguins

Tonight's game will see two lengthy goal scoring streaks come head-to-head in Josh Norris and Auston Matthews. Norris, who seems to have fully found his game that allowed him to be a 35-goal scorer just two seasons ago, is now on a five-game goal scoring streak. Most notable has been his work on the power play, a relative weakpoint for the Senators lately, where he's scored three in his last five outings.

Auston Matthews is back to his old tricks, leading the NHL by a healthy margin with 28 goals this season, on pace for a a staggering 74 goals. Matthews is on a seven-game goal streak and in that stretch has lit the lamp 12 times. Suffice it to say it will not be light work slowing him down tonight.

Tonight's game acts as a real opportunity to turn the tide for the Sens, carrying forward positive momentum as they look to make up some ground on the playoff race during this busy stretch between now and the All-Star break.

By the numbers

Below is how the Senators lined up during their morning skate at Scotiabank Arena ahead of tonight's game:

Hear from interim head coach Jacques Martin and defenceman Jake Sanderson ahead of tonight's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.

Watch the full recap of the Senators win over the Maple Leafs in their first visit to Toronto this season:

The puck has dropped for the Battle of Ontario!!

\Goal:\ Auston Matthews opens the scoring in Toronto at the 14:19 mark. Toronto is up 1-0

\Goal:\ Shortly after their first goal Tyler Bertuzzi gets another one in for Toronto. With 13:56 left of the first Toronto leads 2-0.

\Penalty:\ TJ Brodie gets called for tripping Brady Tkachuk. Sens get their first chance on the power play with 8:57 to go in the first.

\Penalty:\ Artem Zub goes to the box for slashing Nicholas Robertson. Sens go to work to try and kill off their first penalty.

Penalty has been killed, the score remains 2-0 TOR.

\Penalty:\ Josh Norris gets called for high-sticking Noah Gregor, Sens go back to the PK.

\Goal:\ Parker Kelly comes through with a short handed goal to cut the lead in half. With 9:43 left of the second Sens get one on the board 2-1 TOR.

Sens get on the board while killing off their second penalty of the game.

\Goal:\ Drake Batherson gets the rebound off Tim Stützle's shot and ties the game up 2-2 at the 4:46 mark of the period.

Penalty:** Josh Norris goes back to the box for a second time this period. Sens look to kill off their third penalty kill of the game.

Joonas Korpisalo makes a few great saves and the Sens successfully kill off the penalty to keep the game tied.

\Penalty:\ Ridly Greig and William Lagesson both get 5 minute majors for fighting.

\Goal:\ Drake Batherson tips it in from the side to put the Sens up 3-2 with 16:16 left in the final frame.

\Goal:\ Brady Tkachuck gets one in the empty net and the Sens double the lead in the final 2:27 of the game.

Sens get the victory in the Battle of Ontario!!

Watch the full recap here: