While the Maple Leafs are making their ninth consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Senators are in the postseason for the first time since 2017 when they lost in double overtime in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

John Tavares has fond memories of watching the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Ottawa Senators in the early 2000s.

Toronto, which topped the Atlantic Division with 108 points, opens the post-season Sunday night against the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of a best-of-seven series that represents the first playoff Battle of Ontario in more than two decades.