Hoffman scores twice; Senators down Leafs

Mike Hoffman scored twice as the Ottawa Senators opened the National Hockey League pre-season with a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night.

Mark Stone, Tyler Randell, Gabriel Gagne, Cody Ceci also scored for Ottawa.

Craig Anderson looked solid playing the first half of the game, allowing one goal on 16 shots. Daniel Taylor, slated to play in Belleville of the American Hockey League this year, allowed one goal on 15 shots.

Auston Matthews and William Nylander scored the goals for the Leafs.

Curtis McElhinney started the game and allowed four goals on 12 shots before Garret Sparks came in midway through the second. Sparks allowed two goals on 14 shots.

Highly touted Senators prospect Colin White left the game holding his left arm after blocking a Calle Rosen shot late in the third.

The two teams are back in action Tuesday night at Air Canada Centre.

With the Senators leading 6-1, Nylander beat Taylor with a laser of a shot on the power play late in the third.

Trailing 4-1, the Leafs had a great opportunity to get back in the game with a two-man advantage for 1:13, but were unable to create any significant chances.

Ottawa made it 5-1 as Gagne fought for a loose puck in the crease and slid it behind Sparks. Less than two minutes later, Ceci finished off some nice passing from Stone and Zack Smith to make it 6-1.