Toronto Maple Leafs force Game 7

The Toronto Maple Leafs won Game 6 of their second-round series with the Florida Panthers. Forcing a winner-takes-all game seven at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday night.

Monkey off the back?

Auston Matthews scored the eventual game winner in the 2–0 victory, scoring his first of the series and first career goal in round 2. There are 110 players in NHL history who have scored 400 career regular season goals. Entering game 6, Matthews was the only player with zero career goals past the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The goal was one that Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky probably wanted back, but nonetheless, it was a massive goal. It may affect Matthews’ confidence going into game 7. Through the first five games of the series, Matthews was silent, receiving backlash from fans and media.

He’s made a living from scoring goals, and with only three assists in five games, the fans began questioning if he has the clutch gene in the playoffs. However, those same people will be very quiet after tonight.

Mr. Step Up

In Game 6 against the Ottawa Senators, Max Pacioretty scores a massive goal in the third period to help the Leafs to a massive win. Game 6 against Florida, Pacioretty does it again. With 5:43 left in the third period, Pacioretty scored to give the Leafs some insurance. After being a healthy scratch at times during the first-round series, Pacioretty has made head coach Craig Berube look like a genius for putting him in the lineup regularly.

Woll steps up after Stolarz injury

After the injury to Anthony Stolarz in Game 1 against Florida, Joseph Woll had to come in cold, having not played in the first round. He’s been up to the challenge. Game 4 was the first time he gave up fewer than three goals in a playoff game in the 2–0 loss. Tonight, he made 22 saves for his first career playoff shutout.

Even though he gave up five goals in Game 5, he gave Berube the “response” that he’s been emphasizing all year long.

The two best words in sports!

Every hockey fan knows that the Leafs have their history with the infamous Game 7. Especially with the core four of Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander. However, all year, fans have been saying “this year is different.” It’s going to have to be because the Leafs haven’t won a Game 7 since 2004.

This was a great road win for the Leafs. They played exactly the way that got them here. Tight, defensively, and capitalizing on their chances. The Leafs will need to build that momentum going into Sunday night.