The Toronto Maple Leafs have forced Game 7. Now they will try to change their history in Sunday night’s decisive second-round game against the defending champion Florida Panthers.
The Maple Leafs’ six-game losing streak in Game 7s is the second-longest active one behind the Colorado Avalanche (seven). Toronto has lost its last two home Game 7s and hasn’t reached the conference finals since 2002.
The Panthers are 2-0 on the road in Game 7s. They also won Game 7 at home last season to avoid a historic collapse against the Edmonton Oilers and win the Stanley Cup.
Brad Marchand, whom the Panthers acquired at the trade deadline, is 4-0 in Game 7s against the Maple Leafs.
How will Sunday night’s game play out? USA TODAY Sports makes its Game 7 predictions:
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers: Who will win Game 7?
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.
What time is Maple Leafs vs. Panthers Game 7?
Game 7 of the Panthers-Maple Leafs series will start at 7:30 in Toronto.
How to watch Maple Leafs vs. Panthers playoff game: TV, stream
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Scotiabank Arena in Toronto
- TV: TNT, truTV
- Stream: Sling TV, Max