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The Toronto Maple Leafs win Game 6 2-0 against the Florida Panthers, forcing a Game 7 in their second-round series. Auston Matthews and Max Pacioretty were the goalscorers for Toronto in the third period. It was Matthews' first second-round goal of his career.
Joseph Woll records a shutout stopping all 20 Florida shots. It is Woll's first playoff shutout of his career.
Game 7 is Sunday night in Toronto.
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Maple Leafs stay alive, force Game 7 with win over Panthers in Game 6: Takeaways
When the reigning Rocket Richard Trophy winner broke into the Panthers zone with speed in the third period, you could practically feel Amerant Bank Arena tense up. Auston Matthews had been stifled throughout the series and the pressure surrounding him to produce had risen, especially in the second round of the playoffs.
But with a quick wrist shot through the legs of Sergei Bobrovsky, Matthews broke through. To his credit, Matthews never sounded defeated in the aftermath of Game 5. He backed that up with the kind of goal his team needed to remain in the series. That his celebration was one less of joy and more of relief said a lot about where Matthews and the Leafs are at right now in the series. It was Matthews’ third playoff goal of his career in an elimination game. And with it, the Leafs and their fan base undoubtedly felt a jolt of confidence they might not have felt in days.
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Auston Matthews became the second captain in Leafs history to score the game-winning goal when facing elimination, following Darryl Sittler in Game 6 of the 1976 Quarterfinals.
Craig Berube says he isn't sure if Matthew Knies will be healthy enough to play Game 7. No specifics provided on his injury.
Craig Berube coached the St. Louis Blues to a Stanley Cup with a Game 7 win over the Boston Bruins. He has some experience coaching in these big games.
"There's a lot on the line. Everything's on the line."
Craig Berube was simple in his postgame news conference about Toronto's Game 6 victory. He was impressed with the Maple Leafs' ability to "manage the puck."
"We played a simple game tonight," Berube said. "We were determined."
On Auston Matthews: "He plays 200 feet for me. Touches all areas of the game. Got a big goal for us."
Max Pacioretty has played in a lot of big games. He scored another critical goal tonight in a Game 6.
"We were patient in our game," Pacioretty said. "We didn't deviate."
On the Game 5 loss, Pacioretty said, "You flush it. We knew we had so much better."
On Auston Matthews scoring: "Just a huge huge goal."
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Auston Matthews broke the ice tonight with a critical third-period goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He called his team's performance tonight "gutsy."
"Just a gutsy win all around," Matthews said to Sportsnet postgame. "The job is not done yet."
Bobby McMann praised his team's start to Game 6, coming out with confidence to shut out the Florida Panthers.
"We were playing the right way," McMann said.
On playing in a Game 7: "It should be fun."
Toronto:
Florida:
Joseph Woll, after recording his first playoff shutout, praised his group's ability to respond after a disappointing Game 5.
"A lot of confidence in our group," Woll said on how he's feeling after Game 6. He stopped all 20 Florida Panthers shots.
Shots:
Hits:
PIM:
Faceoff %:
Faceoffs won:
Blocked shots:
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The Leafs got the game they needed from Auston Matthews. The game-winning goal that broke a 0-0 tie and a dominant effort controlling the puck.
Joseph Woll is the first Leafs goaltender to post a shutout in a game when facing elimination since Curtis Joseph in Game 5 of the 2002 conference finals.
P3 0:00 – Maple Leafs 2, Panthers 0
The Toronto Maple Leafs win Game 6 and will force a Game 7 Sunday night. Joseph Woll records his first playoff shutout.
What a win!
P3 1:48 – Maple Leafs 2, Panthers 0
Florida takes a timeout. Toronto leads by two.
Inching closer to a Game 7.
P3 2:37 – Maple Leafs 2, Panthers 0
The Maple Leafs are trying to hold onto a two-goal lead with Sergei Bobrovsky out of his net.
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Two third-period goals from Auston Matthews and Max Pacioretty. The Leafs are on the verge of forcing another Game 7.
P3 5:43 – Maple Leafs 2, Panthers 0
Max Pacioretty does it again in a Game 6. He did it against the Ottawa Senators. And now tonight makes it 2-0.
Huge huge goal.
P3 7:14 – Maple Leafs 1, Panthers 0
John Tavares storms the net but Sergei Bobrovsky stops the puck. It's still a one-goal lead for Toronto.
Can the Maple Leafs hold?