OTTAWA – NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS — If you’re looking for a feel-good playoff story, look no further than Simon Benoit—Toronto’s unlikely Game 3 hero and, officially, the Maple Leafs’ new Mr. Overtime.
The unheralded 26-year-old blueliner from Laval, Quebec, didn’t just show up—he shut it down. With a booming slapshot just 1:19 into overtime, Benoit lifted the Maple Leafs to a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators and a commanding 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference First Round series.
Depth Delivers in Crunch Time
Forget the big guns for a second. This wasn’t Matthews, Marner, or Nylander stealing the spotlight. It was Benoit—the third-pairing grinder turned playoff game-breaker—who made the difference in back-to-back OT thrillers.
“When you don’t score many goals, yeah, this is probably the biggest,” Benoit chuckled post-game, flashing a sheepish grin. “Second-biggest? Probably peewee or something.”
Cue the laughter. Cue the legend growing in real time.
Playoff Lightning Strikes Twice
Let’s put this in perspective. On Tuesday night in …