Latest news with #Game7s
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Reliving the 25 most unforgettable Stanley Cup clinching moments in NHL history
Bobby Orr's airborne celebration (Credit: Le Studio du Hockey/Hockey Hall of Fame) Nothing in hockey compares to the sudden-death tension of a Cup-clinching overtime goal. The first ever came in 1933, when Bill Cook's OT winner gave the Rangers their first championship. Seven years later, Bryan Hextall's double-overtime dagger extended New York's glory. The 1950 Final saw Pete Babando become an unlikely hero. Scored in the second OT of Game 7 to crown Detroit, also modern eras have added to the lore, in 1996, Uwe Krupp's triple-overtime goal ended the longest Cup-clinching game in history. Patrick Kane's sneaky 2010 winner left even his teammates confused before celebrations erupted. Alec Martinez's 2014 rebound in double OT cemented the Kings' dynasty. These moments didn't just win championships; they became immortal. Goaltenders who stole the show when it mattered most Great goalies define legacies in Game 7s and elimination nights. Rookie Ken Dryden's 1971 Conn Smythe performance stunned Chicago, proving Montreal's faith in him was justified. Patrick Roy's 63-save masterpiece in 1996; a triple-OT shutout; showcased his clutch gene. Tim Thomas' 2011 shutout in Vancouver was a masterclass, stopping 37 shots to silence a hostile crowd. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keep Your Home Efficient with This Plug-In elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo Rookie Jordan Binnington's 2019 Game 7 brilliance ended St. Louis' 52-year drought, outdueling Boston's veterans. Even backups left marks; Cam Ward's 2006 Cinderella run earned him playoff MVP as Carolina triumphed. When the pressure peaked, these netminders delivered. NHL Unforgettable Moments Unexpected heroes who rose to the occasion The Stanley Cup has a way of turning role players into legends. In 2003, fourth-liner Mike Rupp scored his first playoff goal; the Cup winner; in New Jersey's Game 7 shutout. Ruslan Fedotenko, a quiet contributor, netted both goals in Tampa's tense 2004 clincher. Max Talbot, known for grit, scored both in Pittsburgh's 2009 Game 7 upset over Detroit. Lanny McDonald's 1989 storybook ending; a goal in his final game; etched his name in Flames lore. Bobby Nystrom, a checking-line forward, became an Islanders icon with his 1980 OT winner. These moments prove championships aren't just won by stars, but by those who seize their chance. From early pioneers like Cook and Hextall to modern icons like Kane and Binnington. These moments transcend eras, and they capture desperation, skill, and sheer will. Henri Richard's 1971 Game 7 rally, Bobby Orr's airborne celebration. And Jonathan Toews feeding Bryan Bickell for Chicago's 17-second comeback in 2013. Read more: Florida Man energy meets Canadian pride as Stanley Cup final becomes a battleground beyond the rink The Cup isn't just won; it's etched into history by those who refuse to let the moment overwhelm them. Whether through a goalie's brilliance, an underdog's grit, or a disputed call, these 25 snapshots remind us why hockey's ultimate prize carries such weight. Decades from now, new names will join this list; but the magic of a Cup-clinching moment will never fade.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
"An absolute dog": Pat McAfee hypes Brad Marchand as Panthers' secret weapon in Stanley Cup push
Pat McAfee is all praises about Brad Marchand (Image via Brad Marchand has made his presence felt in Florida — and quickly. Since being traded from the Boston Bruins just two months ago, the veteran forward has transformed into a playoff wrecking ball for the Panthers. His Game 7 heroics against the Toronto Maple Leafs not only helped seal the series win but also reignited the Hall of Fame conversation around the 37-year-old. Brad Marchand turns up the heat at the perfect time for Florida Panthers The Panthers already looked solid as defending Stanley Cup champions, but Marchand's addition might be what takes them over the top again. After a quiet start in the regular season with just 4 points in his first 10 games, he has exploded in the postseason with 3 goals and 9 assists in 12 games. As Pat McAfee said on his show, 'At 37 years old or whatever, Marshy's an absolute dog. I enjoy him, I enjoy him a lot.' And it's hard not to — his impact goes beyond the stat sheet. The fight for the Stanley Cup 🏆 Pat Maroon breaks down remaining title hopes | The Pat McAfee Show Known for his grit, hockey IQ, and leadership, Marchand's transition into the Panthers' locker room has been seamless. NHL analyst Pat Maroon praised him not just as a player but as a presence: someone who elevates those around him. That's echoed by Panthers head coach Paul Maurice, who said, 'Two playoff series, I started to appreciate just his game, just the hockey… To play the number of games that he's played, as hard as he's played, at his size, there's a compete in that guy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 1천만 탈모시대, 하루만에 해결 할 수 있는 길 열려. 메디케어플래닛 더 알아보기 Undo ' His latest achievement? Becoming the first NHL player ever to win five Game 7s against a single franchise — the Maple Leafs. In the latest showdown, he racked up a goal and two assists, helping the Panthers dominate the series finale. Marchand now trails only Gordie Howe in all-time playoff points against Toronto, with 36 to Howe's 53. Also Read: 'Don't think it's justified': Brad Marchand slams Leafs fans, says Toronto backlash is 'crucifixion' not criticism The Panthers are surging into the Conference Final, and with Marchand's intensity and playoff pedigree, the rest of the league should be on high alert. Hall of Famer or not — and Pat McAfee thinks he already should be — Brad Marchand is writing one unforgettable chapter in NHL playoff history. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brad Marchand Fires Back at Maple Leafs Nickname After Making NHL History
The Toronto Maple Leafs' season ended abruptly on Sunday following yet another Game 7 loss, this time 6-1 against the Florida Panthers. After making NHL history with a fifth career Game 7 win over the Maple Leafs, Panthers forward Brad Marchand was given a new label by a reporter in the postgame media scrum: "Maple Leafs Executioner." Advertisement Marchand quickly rejected the idea. 'I appreciate that, but no, I don't look at it that way," Marchand quickly responded. "If you look at the past, I haven't played well in Game 7s against Toronto. No one player wins anything. "I've just happened to be part of good teams who have had the upper hand, but if you historically look at the games, I didn't play well. It wasn't me that beat them, it was our teams. "Our teams have always been really deep and good, and I am fortunate to be part of a really, really deep team here right now. So, I don't look at it that way.' Marchand scored once and added two assists in Florida's Game 7 win at Scotiabank Arena, sending the Panthers to a third straight Eastern Conference finals. He became the first player in NHL history to win five Game 7s against a single franchise, four with the Boston Bruins and one now with Florida. Advertisement 'We're a really good, deep team, too, and that's how things go sometimes,' Marchand said. 'I got lifted up by the guys around me.' Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand speaks during a press conference after a victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images The Panthers broke the game open in the second period after a goalless opening frame with three unanswered goals in a 6:24 span. Toronto's lone goal came from Max Domi early in the third before Florida pulled away with three more goals, including Marchand's empty-netter. Aiming to win the Stanley Cup in back-to-back seasons, Florida moves on to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals beginning Tuesday. Related: Brad Marchand Blasts Leafs Nation's 'Unjustified' Behavior Toward Maple Leafs Related: Auston Matthews Throws Maple Leafs 'Passengers' Under the Bus After Game 7
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brad Marchand Drops Subtle Maple Leafs Joke After Game 7 Win
Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand didn't waste his chance to needle the Toronto Maple Leafs fanbase one last time after Florida's 6-1 Game 7 win at Scotiabank Arena. During a postgame interview on TNT, Marchand was asked by former NHL player, current analyst, and renowned Leafs fan Paul Bissonnette about the Panthers' mindset heading into the second period. Advertisement Florida scored three unanswered goals in just over six minutes, including one by Marchand, to break the game open and remove all chances of Toronto advancing to the Eastern Conference Final. 'Yeah, we had the beLEAF,' Marchand said with a grin, drawing laughs from the panel and a funny reaction from Bissonnette. It was a pointed but light-hearted shot after Marchand became the first player in NHL history to win five Game 7s against Toronto. Marchand finished Sunday's game with a goal and two assists and led Florida in second-round scoring with eight points across seven games. Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand (63) skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images While Marchand played up the rivalry, he also gave Toronto credit during his media availability, prasing the team and blasting Leafs Nation for their never-ending criticism of the franchise. Advertisement 'I said it before, I wasn't just pumping their tires, they're a different team this year,' Marchand said. 'They competed way harder than they ever had. 'If you look at the heat this team catches, it's actually really unfortunate. They've been working at building something really big here for a while, and they were a different brand of hockey this year. They are getting crucified and I don't think it's justified just because they weren't able to do it. 'But we are a really good, deep team, too, and that's how things go sometimes.' Florida will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference finals, beginning Tuesday. Advertisement Related: Brad Marchand Blasts Leafs Nation's 'Unjustified' Behavior Toward Maple Leafs Related: Auston Matthews Calls Out Maple Leafs 'Passengers' After Game 7
