“This is our f****** year,” Paul Bissonnette left HYPED UP as Maple Leafs take 3-0 series lead against Senators

The Toronto Maple Leafs grabbed another 3-2 overtime win against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday and took a commanding 3-0 lead.

“This is our f****** year,” Paul Bissonnette left HYPED UP as Maple Leafs take 3-0 series lead against Senators

Paul Bissonnette (Image via NBC News)

Former NHL star turned analyst Paul Bissonnette was left hyped on Thursday. His beloved Toronto Maple Leafs stunned their rivals, Ottawa Senators once again in overtime and took a commanding 3-0 first round series lead.

The first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs saw the Maple Leafs lock horns with the Senators in the “Battle of Ontario“. After a chirpy Game 1, which saw the Maple Leafs run out at 6-2 winners, Game 2 went into overtime.

An overtime winner from Max Domi saw the Maple Leafs do something that they had not done in over 20 years. For the first time since 2002, they entered Game 3 of a playoff series with a 2-0 lead. In Game 3, they once again broke the hearts of their rivals.

The third game of the series at the Canadian Tire Centre saw the two finish level at 2-2 after the end of regulation period. With the crowd right behind the back of the Senators, the visitors stunned them through Simon Benoit.

The defenseman’s shot from long range went through a few players and found the back of the net, leaving goaltender Linus Ullmark stretching. Fans in Toronto went wild while the ones in Ottawa sat in silence.

Paul Bissonnette, who is huge fan of the Maple Leafs, was left hyped up after the win. Taking to his X account, the NHL analyst made his feelings known and expressed that this was their year.

Unbelievable. Yes, the D-men are stepping up. This is our f****** year, 3-0. Close them out.

Paul Bissonnette said in a post on X

The Maple Leafs would now be looking to win just their second playoff series in over two decades. Last year, they suffered another first-round exit as the Boston Bruins eliminated them in Game 7.

Maple Leafs’ Simon Benoit labels Game 3 OT winner as the ‘biggest goal’ of his life

On Thursday, for a second game running, the Toronto Maple Leafs needed someone to step up and become an overtime hero. Defenseman Simon Benoit stepped up to the occasion and scored in OT in Game 3 to hand his side an important 3-0 lead. In the press conference after the game, the 26-year-old labeled it as the “biggest goal” of his career.

Simon Benoit
Simon Benoit (Image via Reddit)

During the press conference, a reporter would ask Benoit whether this was the biggest goal of his career. The defenseman hilariously nodded to this and admitted that he does not score often.

I don’t score much goals, so I would say yeah.

Simon Benoit said

In the 279 regular-season games, he has scored only 6 times and has 24 assists to his name. Benoit later expressed that it is hard to score in the playoffs, so it was good for the team to have some other faces pop up with some goals.

When was the last time the Maple Leafs swept their opponents in a playoff series?

The Toronto Maple Leafs do not have a good record in the playoffs in recent years. Several times, they have been eliminated in the first round. This time, they have a chance to reach the second round with a sweep over their rivals, the Ottawa Senators. This has led to some wondering when was the last time the Maple Leafs swept their opponents in a playoff series.

Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs celebrating their OT win (Image via CityNews Toronto)

The last time the Maple Leafs swept an opponent was 24 years ago in 2001. The team on that occasion? The Ottawa Senators.

In 2001, the Maple Leafs swept the Senators during the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals. The Toronto-based side went on to lose in Game 7 against the New Jersey Devils. Since then, the Maple Leafs have not swept any opponent in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

All eyes will now turn to Saturday when the two teams take to the field for Game 4. The Senators would be hoping to avoid history repeat itself and try to force Game 5 at the Scotiabank Arena.