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TORONTO (AP) -- Steve Thomas took matters into his own hands and put the Toronto Maple Leafs on the cusp of the second round.
Thomas tied Game 5 late in regulation and then won it at 14:47 of overtime Saturday night as the Maple Leafs earned a key 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators.
|  | | Ottawa's Rob Zamuner runs into Leafs captain Mats Sundin at center ice. |
Thomas, who made it 1-1 with only 4:30 left in the third period, put the Leafs ahead 3-2 in the best-of-seven playoff series.
The veteran of 15 NHL seasons set a league record during this past season for most regular-season overtime goals with his 11th career.
With a win at Ottawa on Monday, Toronto can advance to a second-round meeting with the New Jersey Devils. If necessary, Game 7 would be Tuesday night back at the Air Canada Centre.
The home team has won all five games in the series.
The winning goal came when Thomas redirected a 2-on-1 pass from Sergei Berezin behind goalie Tom Barrasso. The Leafs were 3-0-5 in overtime at home during the regular season.
"I really think our team showed a lot of perseverance," Thomas said. "For 2½ periods it seemed like we were squeezing the sticks, playing with too much stress.
Ottawa, which lost its 10th straight road playoff game, held a 32-16 shots advantage when Joe Juneau scored in the second period. The Senators finished with 38 shots compared to 31 for Toronto.
"It's frustrating to lose this one after a great effort," Juneau said. "When we got the lead, you try to not to give them too much. Sometimes we didn't give them enough pressure."
Thomas tied it by firing a slap shot from the circle to the right of Barrasso into the far, top corner of the net.
"Not many guys could have made that shot," Joseph said.
The Maple Leafs killed off a 5-on-3 disadvantage in the third period -- including a double minor against Garry Valk for high-sticking -- not allowing the Senators to register a shot.
"We didn't capitalize on our power-play opportunities," Senators coach Jacques Martin said. "And there was a little too much (open ice in overtime) and it kind of backfired on us."
Said Thomas: "That was a pivotal point in the game. That gave us some jump."
In overtime, scoring chances came fast and furious. Igor Korolev had the first good one, and Barrasso got a leg pad on the slap shot. Shawn McEachern had Ottawa's first shot in the extra session, but Curtis Joseph snared it with his glove.
Seven minutes into overtime, Joseph got his stick shaft down just in time to stop Andreas Dackell's slider.
Darcy Tucker was set up in front by Mats Sundin but Barrasso made the save.
Adam Mair, an AHL call-up in his first game with the Leafs since December, flipped a rebound off the crossbar 13 minutes into overtime.
Then, Thomas ended the wild extra period.
It was a goalie duel from the outset. Barrasso went down and stacked his pads to rob Korolev five minutes in, and Joseph glided out of his crease to get an arm on a Sami Salo drive in the 13th minute. Those were the best of many fine saves in a scoreless first period.
Joseph had no chance on Juneau's goal, scored at 4:36 of the second period. Dackell had the puck along the left-wing boards in the Toronto zone. Spotting Juneau free in the circle on the other side of the ice, Dackell passed the puck as Juneau readied for a shot. As the puck arrived, Juneau slapped it into the open side of the net before Joseph could get over.
Joseph kept Ottawa from taking a two-goal lead when he stopped Shaun Van Allen after he broke in alone when the Leafs were caught on a bad line change.
"It was the best we've played in the whole series. We had a lot of pressure," Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson said. "We gave it all we had. We came close, but only one team comes out the winner. We have to make sure we come out with a great effort on Monday, win the game and force Game 7."
Fans starting booing the home team's bad passes and ineffective play. The Senators smothered the Leafs with a trapping defense during the regular season, and they were doing it again.
"There was a point in the third period where we couldn't even get a dump-in into their zone," Thomas said. "That's how well they were playing defensively. It was like there was a wall up across their blue line. But we told each other, 'It might take 58 minutes but we have to persevere.' And we did."
Only one minor penalty was assessed in the first 48 minutes and it was against Chris Phillips for interference in the second period. Tie Domi was sent off, again for interference, at 8:08 of the third, then Valk was put in the penalty box for four minutes for cutting Radek Bonk with a high stick.
The Senators have had trouble scoring goals at Toronto in the series, Ottawa lost the opening two games 2-0 and 5-1.
"We played well, but we've scored two goals in three games here," Barrasso said. "So it's probably not the best way to win hockey games. We just need to finish and be a little more aggressive."
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Ottawa Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
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Toronto 2
Ottawa 1
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Steve Thomas hits the game-winning goal in overtime.
avi: 2008 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Steve Thomas beats Tom Barrasso for the goal.
avi: 639 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Joe Juneau scores for Ottawa in the second period.
avi: 545 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Steve Thomas says it feels great to win a game for his team.
wav: 140 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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