Apr 26, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (91) shoots the puck away from Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson (85) in game four of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
By all accounts, Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares is feeling fine after colliding with Artem Zub late in their 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators.
Tavares was battling in front of the net when Zub's shoulder, or elbow, hit the forward in the head. The 34-year-old was slow to get to his feet before skating gingerly over to Toronto's bench, and ultimately, going to the Maple Leafs' dressing room.
Shortly after the collision, Toronto got a four-minute power play due to a high-stick on Chris Tanev from Drake Batherson. Morgan Rielly filled in for Tavares on the Maple Leafs' top unit, and while they had chances, Toronto couldn't find the back of the net.
"Obviously, it affects, he’s a big part of our power play," said William Nylander after the Senators forced a Game 5. "But I mean, I thought we were still able to get some looks and maybe could’ve had a lucky bounce on our side and got one in there, but that’s how it goes."
Tavares returned to the bench shortly following the power play. He was on the ice for Jake Sanderson's overtime winner, which beat a screened Anthony Stolarz.
Nylander didn't see what occurred between Tavares and Zub, but did provide an update on the forward, saying, "It was nice to see him come back and that he's feeling good."
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube followed up Nylander shortly after, adding there's no worry about Tavares' health.
"I don’t think there’s any concern. He came back. He had to go off for a while. At the time, we got a power play, he’s not out there, but it is what it is."
Tavares has been one of the Maple Leafs' top players in the Battle of Ontario. His three goals and two assists for five points in four games has him third in team scoring, behind Nylander (six points) and Mitch Marner (seven points).
He has one game-winning goal during the series, which came in Toronto's 6-2 win in Game 1 over Ottawa. He had a goal in Game 2 and scored the Maple Leafs' first goal on Saturday night in Game 4.
"We had some looks. We had some good looks," Berube said of Toronto's four-minute power play in overtime.
"(Auston) Matthews hit the post and had some good looks. Didn’t go in. Not going to look at it too much. Didn’t get a bounce. Could’ve ended it, hit a post. We had a couple other good opportunities. Yeah, I mean, JT is very good on the PP for us, but we had our looks."
Game 5 between the Senators and Maple Leafs goes down inside Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. ET. With a win, Toronto moves on to the second round of the playoffs, but with a loss, both teams head back to Ottawa for Game 6.
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