TORONTO -- It's been 21 years since the hockey world last saw a postseason Battle of Ontario between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators.
In the ensuing two-plus decades, each team has taken turns enduring some lean years, a big reason why they haven't met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2004.
Could that change this spring?
The Senators (35-25-5) are trying to do their part to end their seven-year playoff drought, coming into Toronto on a five-game winning streak to face the Maple Leafs (39-23-3) in front of a national TV audience on "Hockey Night in Canada" on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP, TVAS2).
"They're a desperate team, as we should be too," Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said after the morning skate at Scotiabank Arena. "And you know, it's going to be another playoff game, in my opinion."
Berube was referring to the fact that he'd similarly called Toronto's game against the Florida Panthers on Thursday a playoff game. The Maple Leafs ended up losing that game 3-2.
Toronto has lost four of its past five games (1-3-1) and enter play Saturday in second place in the Atlantic Division with 81 points, four points behind the Panthers and two points ahead of the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning.
Of more immediate relevance is the ascension of the Senators, who are in fourth in the division and can move within four points of the Maple Leafs with a victory on Saturday. They enter the game in the first wild card of the Eastern Conference after finishing 13 points out of a playoff spot last season.
"[Ottawa] has been an up-and-coming team for the past two or three years," Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner said. "You knew eventually they were going 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."