The Florida Panthers‘ quest for a Stanley Cup repeat has hit a couple snags.
They lost the first two games of their second-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. They rallied to win three in a row but lost Game 6 at home with a chance to wrap up the series.
That sets up a winner-take-all Game 7 Sunday night in Toronto.
“You’ve got to bring all your emotion and intensity and focus to that game and we’ve obviously done it before,” Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad told reporters on Saturday.
The Panthers won Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last season after blowing a 3-0 series lead. That was a home win but they also have won their last two road Game 7s. The Maple Leafs have lost their last six Game 7s.
If the Maple Leafs win, they will host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final. If the Panthers win, they will open the series on the road.
Here’s what to know about Game 7 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers:
Game 7 of the Panthers-Maple Leafs series will start at 7:30 in Toronto.
Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said forward Matthew Knies is “good to go” for Game 7. His ice time had been limited later in Game 6 after he absorbed a few big hits. That doesn’t sound like the case heading into Game 7.
“I anticipate using him,” Berube told reporters.
Game 7 predictions from USA TODAY Sports:
Jason Anderson: Panthers 3, Leafs 1; The Leafs have lost six consecutive Game 7s, and it’s hard to imagine that streak ending against this Panthers team. Sergei Bobrovsky will step up his game, and the Eetu Luostarinen-Anton Lundell-Marchand line in particular will continue what has been a strong series. William Nylander will give Toronto fans hope, but look for Florida to grind out a road win.
Mike Brehm: Panthers 2, Maple Leafs 1. The Maple Leafs played a perfect style for an elimination game to stay alive on Friday. But they’ve done that before and then lost in Game 7. First-year Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube (2-1 in Game 7s) has Toronto playing better, but Panthers coach Paul Maurice is 5-0. Florida’s championship pedigree will win out.
Jace Evans: Panthers 3, Maple Leafs 2. I will not be surprised if the Maple Leafs win this game. They’re very good! But I can’t pick them until I see this group do it. They are 0-5 in Game 7s in the Auston Matthews/Mitch Marner era (and lost another winner-take-all game in the bubble in 2020). Florida is about as battle-tested as you can be, the bulk of this group winning Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last year.
