Patrice Bergeron praises Brad Marchand’s clutch Game 7 as Maple Leafs collapse again and Core 4 faces reckoning

From retirement, Bergeron had a front-row seat—figuratively, at least—as his longtime teammate once again torched the Leafs when the pressure was at its peak.

Marchand scored once and added two assists in Florida’s 6-1 thrashing of Toronto in Game 7, handing the Leafs another playoff heartbreak on home ice.

Marchand makes NHL history in familiar fashion

This wasn’t just another Game 7 win. It was a statement—and a record-setting one at that.

Marchand is now 5-0 in Game 7s against the Maple Leafs, a mark no player in NHL history has ever hit against a single franchise. With the lights brightest, he’s been at his most dangerous—and once again, Toronto paid the price.

After the game, Bergeron shared his thoughts on Marchand’s latest clutch performance.

No surprise! He always steps up and comes up clutch in the big moments. He’s done it his whole career and is doing it again now. I’m really happy for all of his success right now.

That quiet confidence in Marchand’s ability has been consistent throughout their careers.

Big stage, big moment—Marchand shows up. Every time.

Leafs’ Core 4 disappears again, and pressure mounts on Marner 

While Marchand rose, Toronto’s stars disappeared.

Auston Matthews didn’t register a single point. Mitch Marner had little impact. William Nylander failed to generate offense. John Tavares was largely absent.

On a night where legacies are built, the Leafs’ “Core 4” offered no resistance.

That kind of showing doesn’t just sting—it invites serious questions. And at the top of the list is whether this group, as currently built, can ever truly deliver.

Among them, Marner’s name is the one most frequently brought up in trade chatter.

With one year left on his contract and a growing sense that change is overdue, this may finally be the offseason where Toronto makes a bold move.

Florida moves forward. Toronto replays the same movie.

The Florida Panthers now advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the third straight year. They’ll face the Carolina Hurricanes, aiming for yet another shot at the Stanley Cup.

Toronto? They’re left with the same questions they face every spring—questions about leadership, commitment, and whether this core is built for anything beyond regular season applause.

As for Marchand, he’s once again the villain in Toronto—and maybe the most reliable one the postseason has seen in years.

Bergeron saw it all coming. So did Bruins fans. So, by now, should the Leafs.