Now, the Ottawa Senators trail their first-round series 2-0 against the Toronto Maple Leafs after a 3-2 overtime loss in Game 2 on Tuesday.
Max Domi played OT hero for Toronto, dancing across the Senators zone and easily eluding Batherson before reaching the slot and firing the game-winner past goalie Linus Ullmark.
“You make a mistake and you learn from it and sometimes it’s the hard way and obviously it cost us the game,” Batherson told reporters Wednesday. “So you live and learn but you’ve got to move on and move on to the next one. But definitely wish I could have that one back to say the least.”
Batherson has been criticized for his weak effort to check Domi on the play, gliding past him instead of taking the apparent option for more physical defence.
The 26-year-old is competing in his first career playoff series despite playing with the Senators for parts of every season since 2018-19.
The former fourth-round pick posted a career-high 68 points (26 goals, 42 assists) in 82 regular-season games, but was minus-nine for his third consecutive season in the red.
Through two playoff games, he’s scored once while taking a pair of minor penalties.
The series shifts to Ottawa for Game 3 on Thursday, where the Senators will look to protect home ice after dropping both games in Toronto.
