TORONTO — The Florida Panthers steamrolled the Toronto Maple Leafs with a commanding 6-1 win in Game 7 on Sunday, booking their spot in the Eastern Conference Final for the third straight year and extending Toronto’s decades-long Stanley Cup drought.
For the Leafs, it was a painfully familiar script: they fell to 0-6 in Game 7s during the Auston Matthews era. Meanwhile, veteran Brad Marchand continued his personal dominance over Toronto, improving to a perfect 5-0 in Game 7 matchups against them. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 19 of 20 shots to backstop the Panthers’ rout.
Florida’s pursuit of a second consecutive Stanley Cup remains intact. Game 1 of their series against the Carolina Hurricanes begins Tuesday night.
A Franchise Reborn Under Maurice:
In less than two years, head coach Paul Maurice has helped orchestrate one of the most impressive franchise turnarounds in recent NHL history. When he arrived in June 2022, Florida had won just four total playoff series in its 28-year existence.
Now? Nine series wins in their last 10 postseason matchups.
Maurice inherited a freewheeling team that had just claimed the Presidents’ Trophy, but he transformed it into a disciplined, relentless, and defensively suffocating group — a playoff machine. The Panthers have played 303 games over the past three seasons, yet they show no signs of slowing down.
“I didn’t build this,” Maurice said after the win. “They were already great — I just had to guide them. The credit really goes to these players and what Bill Zito and the front office built.”
But Maurice’s coaching fingerprints were all over this series. After going down 2-0, he made bold lineup changes in Game 3 — retooling the fourth line and flipping wingers on the top two units. The moves paid immediate dividends, helping shift the series’ momentum and neutralize Toronto’s depth scoring.
Leafs Unravel as Season Ends in Chaos:
While Florida thrived, Toronto disintegrated.
Facing a blowout by the midway point of Game 7, Leafs head coach Craig Berube began tossing line combinations together in desperation. Max Domi and Max Pacioretty were thrown into new roles alongside Matthews and Marner, but by then, the damage was done. Toronto had no rhythm, no pushback, and no plan.
The final two periods became a cascade of errors.
Morgan Rielly’s ill-advised pinch led directly to Florida’s opening goal. Brad Marchand’s seemingly harmless shot from distance resulted in a rebound goal after Joseph Woll failed to control it. William Nylander, caught flat-footed in his own zone, failed to defend a key play that led to the Panthers’ third goal.
In just over six minutes, Florida buried the Leafs — and exposed just how unprepared they were for the moment.
Panthers Set the Standard:
The contrast between the two teams couldn’t be clearer. Florida, once a cautionary tale of unfulfilled potential, has become the blueprint for how to build a playoff winner: structure, resilience, and depth. Meanwhile, Toronto’s season ends the way so many have — with more questions than answers.
The most jarring stat? After two periods, the Leafs had allowed more shot attempts than any team in any game this NHL season. While not all those attempts found the net, the message was clear: Florida simply overwhelmed them.
And perhaps the worst part was Toronto’s response — or lack thereof. The team looked tentative, disconnected, and deflated when it mattered most.
For Florida, another step forward. For Toronto, another postseason letdown.
Up Next: Panthers vs. Hurricanes:
The Panthers now shift focus to their next test: the Carolina Hurricanes. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final begins Tuesday night, and Florida will look to continue their march toward a second straight Stanley Cup.
