Leafs, Senators expect playoff-type game in key Atlantic clash

The Battle of Ontario will have high stakes Saturday night for the first time in years, and both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators are bracing for an intense matchup.

"They're a desperate team, as we should be too," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said, per NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "And you know, it's going to be another playoff game, in my opinion."

The rivalry game could be a playoff preview, as each team is jockeying for position in a tight Atlantic Division. The Maple Leafs enter the contest in second place, two points clear of the Tampa Bay Lightning and six clear of the Senators, who have a five-point cushion on the first wild-card seed.

Ottawa is looking to snap a seven-year playoff drought and enters the tilt on a five-game winning streak. Toronto has lost four of its last five.

"(Ottawa) has been an up-and-coming team for the past two or three years," Toronto forward Mitch Marner said. "You knew eventually they were going (to break) that barrier. They've got a lot of skill over there. They have a high work ethic. So, we've got to be ready to do that."

The Senators have won both contests against the Maple Leafs this season and have taken five of the last six meetings.

"It's going to be a big game again," Senators forward Tim Stutzle said. "It's always a big rivalry between those two teams. ... They're a really good team over there, they have a lot of really good players and we just got to play our game."

The Maple Leafs and Senators met in the playoffs four times from 2000-2004 but have since only qualified in the same year twice.