In Sunrise, Florida, the Toronto Maple Leafs managed to keep their playoff hopes alive by defeating the Florida Panthers 2-0 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series on Friday night. Auston Matthews found the back of the net for the first time this series, scoring a crucial goal that broke a scoreless tie in the third period. Goaltender Joseph Woll was instrumental in the victory, stopping 21 shots to secure the shutout.
With the win, the Maple Leafs improved their record to 4-2 when facing elimination during the 2023 playoffs. They have forced a decisive Game 7, which is scheduled for Sunday night in Toronto. The outcome of this matchup will determine who moves on to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.
Max Pacioretty contributed to the victory by scoring an insurance goal, further solidifying the Maple Leafs' control of the game. Florida's goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky, faced 17 shots and made 15 saves but could not keep his team in the game as the defending Stanley Cup champions fell short. The Panthers’ record in potential closeout games over the last three postseason years is now 8-7.
Florida head coach Paul Maurice has an impressive track record in Game 7s, boasting a perfect 5-0 record, which includes clinching the Stanley Cup in the final game of the previous season. The Panthers have performed well in decisive games, with a record of 3-1, including 2-0 on the road, whereas the Maple Leafs have struggled historically. Toronto has lost their last six Game 7s, four of which were against Boston and the current Panthers forward, Brad Marchand.
This playoff match marked the 68th game of the season and was only the second to remain tied at 0-0 after two periods, the first being a recent game where the Edmonton Oilers eliminated the Vegas Golden Knights with a 1-0 victory in overtime of Game 5 in the Western Conference semifinal.
Earlier in the series, the Maple Leafs had showcased their offensive prowess by scoring five goals in Game 1, four in Game 2, and three early in the second period of Game 3, racking up a total of 12 goals in the first seven periods of the series. However, the team hit a dry spell, struggling to score until Matthews seized an opportunity to change the momentum of the game.
The Toronto captain had failed to score in 31 shot attempts against the Panthers this season, which included both regular-season and playoff encounters. Bobrovsky had been a formidable opponent, having stopped 85 of the last 86 shot attempts he faced in this series. Notably, the Maple Leafs hadn’t held a lead for an extended period, going 216 minutes and 30 seconds without being ahead.
Ultimately, the turning point came when a pass from Florida’s Aaron Ekblad went awry, providing Matthews with a slight opening. He capitalized on this chance with a low shot that skittered along the ice, beating Bobrovsky to give the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead with just 13:40 remaining in the game. This goal was not only a personal triumph for Matthews but also pivotal for Toronto as they strive to continue their playoff journey.
