It was a valiant comeback effort by the Ottawa Senators, but in the end, losing the first three games of their first round playoff series was just too much to overcome.

The Maple Leafs advance to take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Panthers will play Games 1 and 2 in Toronto, though the series schedule hadn’t been released as of Thursday night.

With the Ottawa Senators facing elimination from the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday, the Canadian city's mayor has playfully given the team's fanbase permission to clear their schedules in order to cheer on their club.