John E. Sokolowski

Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk Delivers Strong Statement Before Game 7 vs. Maple Leafs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Spencer Garrett Ostrow | Last updated May 18, 2025 2:09 PM ET

The Florida Panthers are set to play their third Game 7 in the Stanley Cup playoffs since acquiring Matthew Tkachuk from the Calgary Flames ahead of the 2022–23 NHL season.

After falling behind 2–0 to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Panthers battled back to win three straight and take a 3–2 series lead.

Toronto responded with a Game 6 win in Sunrise, Florida, and now both teams are back up north for a decisive Game 7 on Sunday night, with a trip to the Eastern Conference Final on the line.

So far in the second-round series, Tkachuk hasn’t found the back of the net but has tallied four assists.

He spoke to the media on Sunday morning and was asked about playing in a Game 7.

"It's what you dream about," Tkachuk said. "If you're going to play tentative, you probably don't belong in these games."

The two Game 7s Tkachuk has played in with the Panthers came in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Boston Bruins — when Florida overcame a 3–1 series deficit — and in last season’s Stanley Cup Final, when the Panthers went up 3–0 before the Edmonton Oilers battled back to force a Game 7.

Tkachuk and the Panthers won both of those games.

Sunday night’s game at Scotiabank Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The winner will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, with Game 1 of that series scheduled for Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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