Panthers show championship mettle, advance with Game 7 win to extend Maple Leafs playoff misery
Playing like the defending Stanley Cup champions they are, the Florida Panthers throttled the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 7 of their second-round playoff series Sunday night at Scotiabank Arena, and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final for the third consecutive season.
If the Panthers played to form in this series-deciding seventh game, so, too, did the Maple Leafs. Toronto tied an NHL record by losing its seventh straight Game 7, six of those with Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly in the lineup. This likely will be their lasting legacy, since there's a good chance Marner leaves this summer as an unrestricted free agent, as could John Tavares, who's also a UFA.
Advertisement
The Maple Leafs have not advanced past the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2002. They have not won the Stanley Cup since 1967, a drought that now extends to 58 years.
Playing Game 7 on home ice thanks to finally finishing first in the Atlantic Division this season, the Maple Leafs were nearly run out of their own building in the opening nine minutes Sunday. Florida attempted 20 shots — recording seven on goal — before Toronto had one single attempt. That is an unreal stat, but it spoke to how much the Panthers owned the puck and won every puck battle to start the game.
But once the Maple Leafs found their footing, they had one Grade-A scoring chance after another against Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky in the second half of the opening period. The very first Maple Leafs shot on goal, a chip in-close by Nylander off a slick Tavares feed at 11:37, very nearly found its way into the net. Bobrovsky, who's now won three straight Game 7s, one in each of the past three postseasons, robbed Nylander, then turned away Max Pacioretty from the low slot two minutes later, and stoned Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz on partial breakaways before the period ended.
After that scoreless and entertaining first period, the Panthers erupted for three goals in a span of 6:24 in the second period to take a 3-0 lead. Seth Jones broke the ice, zipping a shot off the rush from the right circle past Joseph Woll at 3:15 for his third goal of the playoffs and second of the series. A neat pass by Evan Rodrigues in the neutral zone sprung Jones and Sam Reinhart on a 2-on-1. When defenseman Brandon Carlo played the pass, Jones wired his shot far side off the post and in.
Anton Lundell made it 2-0 at 7:18, burying a rebound of Brad Marchand's shot for his fourth postseason goal. The onslaught continued at 9:39 when Florida's fourth-line came through. Jonah Gadjovich had an easy finish after A.J. Greer collected his own rebound and found his open teammate in front.
As brutal as this sequence was for the Maple Leafs, it could have been worse. Way worse. As in 6-0 worse. The relentless Panthers came within inches of scoring again at 11:20, but Sam Bennett's deflection hit the post, not the back of the net. A minute later, with Woll way out of position, Carter Verhaeghe shot toward the open net, but the puck hit Carlo in his rear end, with the defenseman spun backwards to the play.
Advertisement
At 15:01, the Panthers did get the puck over the goal line again, but Jones' apparent goal was waved off because the on-ice officials ruled he interfered with Woll. It was an extremely fortunate call for Toronto because Jones was knocked down by a Maple Leafs defender and into the goalie after his initial shot was denied by Woll. As Jones fell down the puck hit his skate and went over the goal line, but the goal was disallowed and the Panthers carried a 3-0 lead into the second intermission.
It appeared, briefly, that the Maple Leafs would take advantage of those three big breaks, when Max Domi beat Bobrovsky through the five hole just 2:07 into the third period to make it 3-1. But the Panthers showed again why they are the defending Stanley Cup champions, scoring 47 seconds later to restore their three-goal lead.
Eetu Luostarinen went to the net and redirected Marchand's shot just inside the near post for his third playoff goal, silencing the briefly reinvigorated Scotiabank Arena crowd.
Reinhart made it 5-1, sending his fourth playoff goal past a screened Woll after a face-off win by Aleksander Barkov at 9:24. Silence was soon replaced by boos from the Toronto crowd. An all-too-familiar script was too much for the Maple Leafs fans to take, yet again.
Advertisement
Marchand added insult to injury when he hit the empty net from long distance with 3:03 to play.
The Panthers are off to Raleigh now, where they will play Game 1 of the conference final against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. The Maple Leafs head off into a very murky uncertain offseason.
Related: Mark Scheifele's emotional night among takeaways after Jets season ends with Game 6 OT loss to Stars
3 takeaways after Panthers advance to Eastern Conference Final with 6-1 win in Game 7 against Maple Leafs
Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
1. Marchand massive Maple Leafs menace
Different uniform. Same Brad Marchand. And that spelled trouble for the Maple Leafs yet again.
Advertisement
An absolute thorn in Toronto's side for 16 seasons when he played for the rival Boston Bruins, Marchand continued to be a menace against the Maple Leafs in this series with the Panthers. Marchand had a goal and two assists in the decisive Game 7 and eight points in the series, more than any player for either team. Most importantly, with the Panthers down 2-0 in the series, he scored the overtime winner in Game 3 at home that just may have saved their season.
Marchand played the 13th Game 7 of his career Sunday, tied for second most in NHL history, one behind his former Bruins teammates Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara, who each appeared in 14. The feisty 37-year-old Panthers forward has been on the winning side eight times in Game 7s, tying Ryan McDonagh for most among active players. That includes a perfect 5-0 record against the Maple Leafs.
Related: Oilers advance to Western Conference Final with 1-0 OT win over Golden Knights in Game 5: Takeaways
2. Seth Jones: difference maker
Like Marchand, Jones was a late-season trade acquisition by the Panthers. And it just proves how savvy Florida general manager Bill Zito is. After the Panthers won the Cup last spring, they lost more than half of their bottom-six forward group and two of their top-six defensemen. Up against the salary cap, Zito patched those holes with a slew of unheralded additions.
Advertisement
But then he went big ahead of the trade deadline. Marchand arrived from the Bruins and now is a key member in the third line with Lundell and Luostarinen. Jones was picked up from the Chicago Blackhawks and has averaged nearly 26 minutes a night on the blue line.
Jones was excellent all series, but was a difference maker in Game 7. Right from the start, he was active, aggressively pinching in from the point to keep pucks alive in the offensive zone and put pressure on the Maple Leafs. He stepped up to repeatedly cause turnovers and generate scoring chances. He finished with one goal (should've been two), one assist, four shots on goal, seven shot attempts and two blocks at the other end. Jones has six points (three goals, three assists) and is plus-6 in 12 games this postseason.
Also Read:: NHL free agency — Top defensemen available in 2025, including Aaron Ekblad
3. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
Yes, the Panthers deserve credit for rallying to win this series in seven games. And Florida clearly proved its championship mettle yet again. But what about the Maple Leafs? This really appeared to be their most complete team, their best playoff roster in the Matthews-Marner-Nylander era. They had more bite, played more north-south, had home-ice advantage the first two rounds. Yet, they couldn't overcome their past.
Advertisement
The Maple Leafs led the series 2-0 and had a 2-0 lead less than six minutes into Game 3 on the road in South Florida. It really looked like things were different this time. Until they weren't. Marchand won Game 3 in overtime for Florida, and Toronto lost three straight. But the Maple Leafs didn't go down easily, winning 2-0 on the road in Game 6. It was set up for them to exorcise their playoff demons at home in Game 7.
But instead they lost 6-1. In fact, they lost Games 5 and 7 at home by identical 6-1 scores. Beyond words unacceptable. Nylander and Tavares each was pointless in the final four games. Marner had one assist in that span. Matthews had the game-winner in Game 6, his only point in the final four contests.
'I'm just devastated right now,' Marner said postgame.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
38 minutes ago
- New York Times
Oilers won't dwell on missed chances after close Game 2: ‘What's it going to do?'
EDMONTON – Should-haves, could-haves, an almost or two and some what-ifs. The Edmonton Oilers were so close to winning their second consecutive game at home to start the Stanley Cup Final. That would have put them in control against the Florida Panthers as the series shifts to the other side of the continent. Advertisement Instead, Panthers winger Brad Marchand scored the decisive goal on a breakaway at 8:05 of double overtime of Game 2 to hand the Oilers a 5-4 loss on Friday night and even the matchup. The goal came after Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm missed the net on a one-timer from the top of the circle to facilitate the clear-cut chance. It also came after Leon Draisaitl backchecked vigorously to obstruct Marchand's stick, which, despite his best efforts, might have inadvertently contributed to the puck squeaking through goalie Stuart Skinner's legs. 'It's a tough one to swallow, but it's not supposed to be easy,' veteran Oilers winger Corey Perry said. 'They played hard tonight. They got their chances, and they capitalized on that one. That's the difference.' Shots favored Edmonton 46-42 in a game that lasted nearly four and a half periods. It was evenly played, with Natural Stat Trick tracking the high-danger chances at five-on-five at 16-15 in favor the Oilers. Kasperi Kapanen had the Oilers' best chance in extra time. The Oilers would have been in a much more jovial mood if his tip of a Viktor Arvidsson pass had beaten Sergei Bobrovsky in the second overtime, 55 seconds before Marchand's winner. 'The chances missed, you can think about it, dwell on it. But what's it going to do?' Perry said. 'It's not going to do anything for you now.' Perry's goal with 17.8 seconds left in the third period put the Oilers into next-goal-wins territory. He outmuscled the Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen to get to a rebound and beat Bobrovsky to get the latest game-tying goal in Stanley Cup Final history. He also gave the Oilers a chance at their eighth third-period comeback in the playoffs, which could have matched an NHL single-year record. An eighth comeback victory would have equaled the franchise playoff marks set in 1987 and 1991. Advertisement Instead, the Oilers lost their first overtime contest this spring after claiming the first four — on three goals from Draisaitl and another from Kapanen. It was also the first time they've ever lost an extra-time game in the Cup Final. They'd previously won all four of their attempts, with Jari Kurri (1987), Petr Klima (1990), Fernando Pisani (2006) and Draisaitl (Game 1 this year) netting the pivotal goals. 'There's going to be some disappointment,' Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. 'But we've had the mentality, no matter what happens — bad game, close game, overtime, heartbreaking, easy, whatever it is – we put it behind us and we get ready for the next one. 'You learn in the playoffs, things don't always go your way. Sometimes it works in your favor, sometimes it doesn't.' Friday night provided a contrast to Game 1, when the Oilers overcame a two-goal deficit, tied the score in the third and got a goal from Draisaitl on a power play in the last minute of the first overtime period. 'Each game could've went either way,' Knoblauch said. 'When you win the first one, you're disappointed you don't follow up and win the second one. But we're going there with a split and that's fine with us.' They're fine with it, but they're not thrilled with it. Aside from the missed chances, there were other factors the Oilers will want to address. The power play was 1-for-6 and allowed a Panthers goal when Marchand, the overtime hero, scored on another breakaway, which gave the Panthers a 4-3 lead in the second period. They'll also have to improve when it comes to dealing with pesky Panthers forwards around their net. In Game 1, Sam Bennett fell into Skinner after some contact from defenseman Brett Kulak, and a shot hit him and went in. The Oilers challenged for goaltender interference and were unsuccessful, and the Panthers scored on the subsequent power play. Advertisement In Game 2, Bennett was in Skinner's kitchen again, toppling into him midway through the first period after a nudge from Ekholm. This time, Bennett was penalized as Skinner remained down and needed some attention from Oilers head athletic therapist T.D. Forss. Then, in the second period, longtime nemesis Matthew Tkachuk was guided into Skinner as a point shot from former Oiler Dmitry Kulikov headed toward the net. The puck beat Skinner, and the Oilers opted not to challenge. 'We know they have players that want to drive the net,' Oilers defenseman John Klingberg said. 'It comes to us trying to box out earlier. But we're trying to drive the net, too. 'They're a high-shooting volume team and, if you are that, they're bringing people to the net as well.' There are things to clean up. Things that could have been better. Factors that might have led to a better result. 'It's very close out there. It's not a lot of room and ice out there,' Klingberg said. 'But we battled back, scoring that goal got some momentum, had some good chances in overtime as well as them. It's a bounce here and there.' The Oilers easily could have improved to 14-2 in their last 16 games and taken a stranglehold on this series. Instead, they'll have to take solace in a split. 'At this time of year, you've got to move on,' Draisaitl said. 'There's no time (spent) thinking about it too long. It stings right now, but we have to move on.'
Fast Company
an hour ago
- Fast Company
Why the NHL's Stanley Cup is the most authentically human trophy in major sports
The NHL's Stanley Cup is arguably the most iconic championship trophy in sports. Legends like Wayne Gretzky have sipped champagne from it. A Kentucky Derby-winning horse once ate oats out of it. Children have been baptized in it. Just as you can bank on the champions hoisting the Cup each June, you can also bet that some crazy stories will follow. But the Stanley Cup's lore is no accident. It's the result of a masterclass in brand-building by the NHL that turned a $50 silver cup into marketing gold. Here's how they did it. Scarcity: There's only one Stanley Cup Unlike other major sports that create new championship trophies each year, there is only one Stanley Cup. Winners don't get to keep it—they borrow it, adding their names before passing it to the next year's champion. The NHL understands the power of scarcity: When something cannot be possessed permanently, its perceived value increases dramatically. This exclusivity creates a unique reverence for the trophy. The Cup becomes an aspirational symbol rather than an achievement to be stashed in a trophy case. Players won't touch the Cup before winning it, often refusing to even look at it during the playoffs. Such superstitions further mythologize the Cup, creating traditions that sports journalists write about each year, adding to the Cup's lore while generating millions of impressions in free media coverage. Physical permanence in a digital age In an era of fleeting digital experiences, the NHL has leaned into the physical permanence of the Stanley Cup. The Cup carries the engraved names of past champions, creating a physical connection to the sport's history. When a ring on the trophy fills up, the NHL doesn't discard it, rather it preserves it in the Hockey Hall of Fame and adds a new band to the bottom on which to etch the next wave of champions. This engraving practice builds legacy and authenticity that all brands covet. The winning team doesn't just get the same trophy as Gretzky. Each player lifts the exact cup Gretzky held. Their names are etched alongside his, along with the hallowed names of Mark Messier, Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Henri Richard, and dozens of other legends immortalized on the Cup. It's a traveling record book. It's the league's ultimate brand symbol and carries the NHL's history everywhere it goes. And go it does—to the farthest flung corners of the earth. The power of storytelling Perhaps the NHL's most genius Stanley Cup marketing move—and the one that lends itself best to the digital age—came in 1995, when it began giving each member of the championship team a personal day with the Cup. This decision created an organic content machine that churns out authentic moments that spread across newspapers, websites, and social platforms without the NHL spending a dime on placement. When Mario Lemieux takes the Cup swimming, Alex Ovechkin snuggles up with it in his bed, or Patrick Maroon's mom chugs beer from the Cup, viral moments are created that connect emotionally with fans in ways traditional marketing simply cannot replicate. While marketing departments globally brainstorm how to create viral campaigns, the Stanley Cup's summer tour provides an incubator in which viral moments inevitably occur. Phil Pritchard, the 'Keeper of the Cup,' travels over 150,000 miles annually shepherding the trophy from beaches to mountaintops with players who win it, fueling a content goldmine that modern brands can only dream about. All publicity is good publicity Over the years, the Cup has traveled the world. It's climbed mountains, been to the Hollywood sign, and visited troops in an Afghan combat zone. But its escapades haven't always been pretty. Remember when Tom Brady got heat for tossing the Lombardi Trophy from one boat to another at the Buccaneers' Super Bowl boat parade in 2021? That's just another day in the life for the Stanley Cup. The Cup has been dropped, dented, lost, and stolen. It's been kicked into a canal and strapped into a roller coaster—and that's just the stuff we know about. In an increasingly damage-control, image-conscious world, most of these mishaps would be PR nightmares for a brand trying to protect the prize that's an enduring symbol of its business. But the NHL leans into these stories, turning misadventures into viral content. Writers recounting tales of the time the Montreal Canadiens left the Cup on the roadside during a tire change in 1924, or when the Cup was stolen from the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1970, are traditions as annalized as hoisting the cup itself. And each year brings an opportunity for a new story to add to the Cup's mythology and expand its cultural footprint. The most precious asset: emotional equity The Stanley Cup was first purchased in 1892 by Lord Frederick Arthur Stanley for $50. It stands 35.25 inches tall and weighs roughly 35 pounds—'until you lift it,' the traditional saying goes. 'Then it weighs nothing.' With leaguewide revenue hitting $6.3 billion in last season—an 8.6% increase over the previous year—the NHL is flourishing. The Stanley Cup is the centerpiece, proving that organic storytelling and emotional connection transform ordinary objects into brand powerhouses and that value comes not from an object's monetary worth but from the stories, traditions, and emotional resonance it carries. The Florida Panthers are defending the Cup this week in a rematch of last year's Final against the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers took game one 4-3 in overtime, and nobody yet knows whether they will become the first Canadian squad to claim the Cup since the Canadiens topped the Kings in 1993. But one thing is for sure: whichever team earns the right to hoist the trophy will also add another handful of stories to the Stanley Cup's lore.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Three takeaways: Gus Forsling bounces back in big way, Sam Bennett loves playing on road
These first two games of the Stanley Cup Final have been something. The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are treating hockey fans to some incredibly entertaining hockey, with both teams earning a victory during the series' first two games at Rogers Place. Advertisement On Friday, the was the Panthers evening the series at one game apiece with their thrilling 5-4 double overtime win on a goal that came off the stick of Brad Marchand. Now the Cats will head back to South Florida quite pleased with the series split and will look to take a lead in the series when they host Game 3 on Monday. Let's get to the takeaways from Game 2: SECOND OT THE BETTER OT For the second straight Stanley Cup Final game, Florida carried a one-goal lead into the third period, and for the second straight game, Edmonton forced the game to overtime. In Game 2, the Panthers looked much better while trying to hold the lead, only allowing a goal in the final seconds on a great play and shot by Corey Perry. Advertisement Unfortunately, that goal gave Edmonton a jolt of energy that carried into the overtime, where they outshot the Panthers 13-8 and forced Sergei Bobrovsky to make several big saves. It was a different story in the second overtime, though, as Florida played much more sound defense while keeping possession and sustaining pressure. 'I didn't love our overtime,' Maurice said. 'We'll focus on that, and then, even the goal, I liked our second overtime period. I thought we were right there. They had some chances, we had chances, they're a really good team we're playing, and we're a really good team, but I didn't love that (first overtime), so that will be our place of growth here in the next couple of days.' FORSLING BACK TO FORM Gus Forsling is usually as steady as you can find on the blue line. Advertisement He had a rough night during Florida's Game 1 loss to the Oilers, but boy did he bounce back on Friday. While he didn't factor in on the scoresheet and actually finished with a minus-1 rating, Forsling made several elite plays with his stick to shut down high danger opportunities for Edmonton. His ability to stay with Connor McDavid on multiple rush opportunities, whether with his body or with his stick, was a critical piece of why Florida was able to get out of Edmonton with a win. 'He's one of the elite skating defensemen in the league, and most elite skating defensemen have a completely offensive bent,' said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. 'If you skate that well as a young man, you're put into offensive situations, you become a power play guy. But he's has taken that skill and applied it to the defensive side of the game. To fully appreciate, you'd have to be down at ice level to see how fast Connor McDavid is and Leon Draisaitl, they've got a very fast team, but he excels in that game.' Advertisement BENNETT THE ROAD WARRIOR The Panthers are now 9-3 on the road during this postseason after their OT win in Game 2. A big part of that success has been Sam Bennett. On Friday, Bennett set a new NHL record for most road goals in a single playoff, netting his 12th away from Sunrise. He's now scored in five straight road games, racking up seven goals and nine points during those away contests. 'We've started and played most of our playoff lives this year on the road, and then there is no part of his game that changes home to road,' Maurice said of Bennett. 'He's not intimidated by anything. He's not a home performer, and he's not a match-up guy. He'll play against anybody.' Advertisement LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Brad Marchand scores double OT winner as Panthers win to tie Stanley Cup Final Panthers' Sam Bennett Sets New Incredible NHL Record 3 Panthers Who Need Big Performances In Game 2 vs. Oilers The Hockey Show: David Pagnotta talks Stanley Cup Final rematch, coaching changes Panthers Gritty Forward Ruled Out For Game 2 vs. Oilers Photo caption: Jun 6, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) skates past Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling (42) during double overtime in game two of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)
