4 Reasons the Maple Leafs Won Game 6

For years, the Toronto Maple Leafs have tried to skate their way to postseason success on the blades of their best players. That plan has never delivered what this franchise desperately needs: a deep playoff run.

But in Game 6 against the Florida Panthers, something shifted. In a must-win scenario, the Maple Leafs didn’t just survive—they evolved. Their 2-0 victory wasn’t driven by Auston Matthews’ brilliance or Mitch Marner’s magic, but by something rarer and more precious: total team structure. It was a win that felt sustainable, replicable, and—most of all—different.

This post breaks down four key reasons the Maple Leafs earned their Game 6 win—each one a piece of a performance that felt like an actual departure from the past.

Reason One: Woll Was Steady, Not Spectacular—and That Was Enough

Joseph Woll once again proved his mental toughness. Returning from a rough Game 5, he didn’t need to stand on his head or steal the game. Instead, he played with calm, poise, and quiet confidence. The team before him gave him a clean look at shots and protected the dangerous areas.

Woll made the saves he needed, which was all the Maple Leafs required. The shutout was a product of structure, not heroics.

Reason Two: Game 6 Was a True 19-Player Effort

Unlike past playoff games where ice time tilted heavily toward the top stars, this win was evenly distributed. Marner led all forwards with just 21:20, and only Simon Benoit (20:04) crossed the 20-minute mark among defensemen. Morgan Rielly, typically leaned on in crunch time, had the fewest minutes of any blueliner at 18:35. Max Pacioretty, who quietly had one of his best games and scored the insurance goal, had the lowest forward ice time at 11:11.

The minutes were democratic, and the performance was collective. Everyone had a job, and everyone did it.

Reason Three: Speed and Precision Replaced Hesitation

Game 5 looked like it was played underwater. Game 6 felt like fast-forward. The Maple Leafs played quicker, made sharper passes, and moved with greater purpose. That speed was especially evident in transition and the Matthews line, which looked far more dangerous.