Instead, it was a 26-year-old, third-pair defenseman from Laval, Quebec who proved to be the difference maker by beating goalie Linus Ullmark at 1:19 of overtime to give the Maple Leafs a 3-2, Game 3 victory against the Ottawa Senators at a raucous Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday.

Simon Benoit scored on a slap shot from the point at 1:19 of OT to give the Leafs a 3-2 victory over the Senators and a 3-0 series lead.

Simon Benoit scored on a slap shot from the point at 1:19 of overtime to give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators and a 3-0 lead in the first-round series.