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Paul Maurice Delivers Surprising Comments on the Maple Leafs Following Game 6 Defeat

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated May 17, 2025 12:15 PM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs picked up a huge win in Game 6, and after the defeat, Paul Maurice surprisingly praised them for their efforts in the last two games.

The Florida Panthers looked to close out their series with the rival Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 6 on home ice, but behind a clutch goal from Auston Matthews, the Leafs saved their season with the 2-0 victory.

While many would have expected Head Coach Paul Maurice to be frustrated over his teams inability to put a puck in the net, he was actually very complimentary of his opponent after the game, making some surprising comments about the Maple Leafs following the loss.

They got killed for that last game, they didn't deserve too in my opinion.

After losing 6-1 in Game 5, many Maple Leafs fans had given up on the series and their season, but according to Maurice, they put forth a great effort but the Panthers simply had the luck go their way, with the Head Coach again praising his opponents for battling hard even if it didn't look that was on the scoreboard.

Now, things are heading towards Game 7 on Sunday night in Toronto in what will be the biggest game in recent Maple Leafs history, and if they can play the all around game they did on Friday, there's no reason why this team can't punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals.

While it's been a bloody battle on the ice, away from it, these two teams have showed immense respect towards the other, but in Game 7 everything gets put to the side as they go to war in a winner-take-all game that will determine the fate of both organizations moving forward.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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