> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Round 1, Game 6 Preview: It's supposed to be hard
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/round-1-game-6-preview-its-supposed-to-be-hard/
- Published: 2025-05-01T15:53:14.000Z
- Updated: 2025-05-01T18:30:51.000Z
- Description: Yes even like this.
- Author: Cathy Squires
- Tags: Game Coverage, Maple Leafs Playoffs

### Toronto Maple Leafs @ Ottawa Senators  
07:00 PM at Canadian Tire Centre  
Watch on: TBS, MAX, CBC, SN, TVAS

### 

Three games to two is a very popular state in the NHL this year in the first round.

### Them

Ottawa had an optional skate today: 

> Out for the option skate this morning are:  
>  
> Batherson, Merilainen, Forsberg, Matinpalo, Perron, Highmore, Gilbert, Cozens, Zetterlund, Pinto, Zub, Tkachuk, Cousins, Amadio, Gaudette, Hamonic.
> 
> — TSN 1200 Ottawa (@TSN1200) [May 1, 2025](https://twitter.com/TSN1200/status/1917949405363388801?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

> Through five games of the Battle of Ontario, Jake Sanderson has logged 13 more minutes in the series than any other player (and 22 more minutes than any Leaf).   
>  
> Says Travis Green: "There's a limit -- I mean he's not going to play the whole game even though you wish he could." [pic.twitter.com/7zXwyeFlIa](https://t.co/7zXwyeFlIa?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) [May 1, 2025](https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1917958392360173897?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Lines subject to change, the below is from the last game.

#### Lines

Last Game (2025-04-29) via [Daily Faceoff](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/ottawa-senators/line-combinations/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Brady Tkachuk - Tim Stützle - Claude Giroux  
David Perron - Dylan Cozens - Drake Batherson  
Ridly Greig - Shane Pinto - Michael Amadio  
Nick Cousins - Adam Gaudette - Fabian Zetterlund

Jake Sanderson - Artem Zub  
Thomas Chabot - Nick Jensen  
Tyler Kleven - Nikolas Matinpalo

Linus Ullmark - presumed starter  
Anton Forsberg

### Us

The Leafs did not do line rushes per reports but this appears to be the lines: 

#### Lines

Projection based on today's skate from multiple reports: 

Matthew Knies - Auston Matthews - Mitch Marner  
Max Pacioretty - John Tavares - William Nylander  
Bobby McMann - Pontus Holmberg - Max Domi  
Steven Lorentz - Scott Laughton - Calle Järnkrok

Jake McCabe - Chris Tanev  
Morgan Rielly - Brandon Carlo  
Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Simon Benoit 

Anthony Stolarz - starter  
Joe Woll

### The Game

So, I hear you want an easy win, a walkover, domination of the other team in four straight with leads of two, three goals at all times. Big scoring games, easy, safe, comfortable. Can I suggest you try the London Knights then? 

The NHL is supposed to be hard. The Atlantic division is extremely hard and they sent five teams to the playoffs for a reason. Cast your minds back a few weeks when Tampa was held up as an example of a good team. Where are they now? They found out how hard this is. 

Moneypuck had Ottawa as the toughest wild card team to beat. And so they are, with the Wild close on their heels. Neither Vegas, nor the Leafs are "bad" because they have to work for their wins. Dallas and Colorado are working hard to win their games too. 

This is what you signed up for the first time you ever watched a hockey game. Do you like the hard hits and the pace? Do you like the effort that leaves players gasping and cherry red on the bench between shifts? How about the skill a player needs just to score in half his games or how fast a player has to think and move? Then you know it's a hard game. It's why you're here.

No one is ever strewing the path of the Toronto Maple Leafs with rose petals. They have to work for it. 

Go Leafs Go!