The defending champion Florida Panthers are heading to their third consecutive NHL Eastern Conference final after another rout of the Toronto Maple Leafs in their home arena.
After a scoreless first period in Game 7, the Panthers got three goals in a little more than six minutes in the second period on their way to a 6-1 victory on Sunday. They’ll next face the Carolina Hurricanes, who they swept in the 2023 conference final.
The Panthers, who lost Game 6 at home, also beat the Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 5 in Toronto. Florida had lost the first two games at Scotiabank Arena but rallied to win the series and extend the Maple Leafs’ playoff misery.
Toronto has lost seven consecutive Game 7s, tying the NHL record for futility. The Maple Leafs haven’t been to the conference finals since 2002 or won a Stanley Cup since 1967.
The game had a scary moment when referee Chris Rooney left the game in the second period after catching an errant high stick in the face.
Soon after, the Panthers got goals from Seth Jones, Anton Lundell and Jonah Gadjovich. After Toronto’s Max Domi scored in the third period, Eetu Luotsarinen, Sam Reinhart and Brad Marchand replied.
Jones and Marchand, brought in before the trade deadline, combined for two goals and three assists in Game 7. Marchand improved to 5-0 against the Maple Leafs in Game 7s, a record for domination by a player against a single opponent.
The Maple Leafs, booed by fans, have plenty of questions after a season in which they won a division title and reached the second round for the second time since 2004. Core Four members Mitch Marner and John Tavares are unrestricted free agents.
USA TODAY provided live updates for Game 7 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers. Here are highlights:
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers highlights
What’s next for the Panthers?
They will face the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final. They will start on the road for the third consecutive series. Florida went 2-1 against the Hurricanes in the regular season, winning their lone road game.
What’s next for the Maple Leafs?
The question after each Maple Leafs playoff exit is whether to run back with the Core Four of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares. That might be harder because Marner and Tavares are unrestricted free agents. So is Max Pacioretty.
Matthew Knies is due a big raise as a restricted free agent. Nick Robertson is also an RFA but he wasn’t used much in the playoffs. Goalie Joseph Woll has signed an extension and Anthony Stolarz has another year left on his contract.
Game 7 recap
Maple Leafs-Panthers final score: Panthers 6, Maple Leafs 1
That’s the same score as the Panthers’ Game 5 blowout win. The Maple Leafs have now lost seven consecutive Game 7s. The Panthers have won three Game 7s in a row on the road.
Maple Leafs-Panthers score: Brad Marchand gets empty-netter
Barring a miracle comeback, Brad Marchand will go 5-0 in Game 7s vs. the Maple Leafs. He has three points in this game. Panthers 6, Maple Leafs 1.
Maple Leafs pull goalie
Joseph Woll goes off for an extra skater.
Maple Leafs-Panthers score: Sam Reinhart adds to lead
Sam Reinhart continues the Panthers’ rout by scoring after a Florida faceoff win. Panthers 5, Maple Leafs 1
Maple Leafs-Panthers score: Florida responds quickly
Eetu Luotsarinen tips in a Brad Marchand shot 47 seconds after Domi’s goal. Second point of the game for both Panthers players. Panthers 4, Maple Leafs 1
Maple Leafs-Panthers score: Max Domi gets goal
Max Domi takes a long pass on a Panthers line change and beats Sergei Bobrovsky five-hole at 2:07. Domi has four goals in Game 7 during his career. Panthers 3, Maple Leafs 1
Third period underway
3-0 Florida.
End of second period: Panthers 3, Maple Leafs 0
The Panthers get three quick goals – Seth Jones, Anton Lundell and Jonah Gadjovich – and have a sizable lead entering the third period. Jones scored again but the goal was waved off. Shots were 17-4 Florida in that period and the Maple Leafs leave the ice to bans from the home fans.
Seth Jones goal waved off
Seth Jones drives to the net and scores. The puck goes in off his skate, but it apparently was called goalie interference, per TNT. His other leg does hit Joseph Woll. The referee’s microphone wasn’t working so the explanation wasn’t evident. Still 3-0 Florida.
Panthers nearly get another
Carter Verhaeghe has a chance against an out-of-position Joseph Woll, but his shot hits the backside of Maple Leafs defenseman Brandon Carlo.
Maple Leafs-Panthers score: Florida piling it on
Fourth-liner Jonah Gadjovich gets this goal. That’s three goals in 6:24 for Florida. The Panthers’ fourth line has been productive since coach Paul Maurice made a wholesale change for Game 3. Seth Jones, acquired during the season, gets an assist for his second point of the game. Panthers 3, Maple Leafs 0
Maple Leafs-Panthers score: Anton Lundell adds to Florida lead
Anton Lundell jumps on a rebound of a Brad Marchand shot to score at 7:18. Don’t forget that Marchand is 4-0 vs. the Maple Leafs in Game 7s. Panthers 2, Maple Leafs 0
Maple Leafs-Panthers score: Seth Jones opens scoring
Florida breaks the scoreless tie when Seth Jones skates in and beats Joseph Woll to the far side on a 2-on-1 at 3:15. Nice pass from Evan Rodrigues. Panthers 1, Maple Leafs 0
Referee Garrett Rank enters game
He replaces injured Chris Rooney.
Referee Chris Rooney injured
He’s hit in the head by Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola’s stick on a follow-through 13 seconds into the second period. He’s down on the ice for several minutes. A stretcher was called onto the ice, but he leaves with assistance, holding a towel to his face.
Second period underway
Still scoreless.
End of first period: Maple Leafs 0, Panthers 0
Interesting period. Florida controlled the play early (25-0 edge on shot attempts) but once Toronto got its first shot attempt, the Maple Leafs took over. Sergei Bobrovsky had to stop a couple breakaways. Toronto tied the shots at seven before giving up a few while killing a penalty. Shots are 9-7 Florida. Hits are tied at 16. Toronto has blocked 15 shots and after blocking 31 in their shutout win in Game 6.
Panthers go on power play
Toronto called for too many men on the ice. Panthers get a few shots, but Maple Leafs kill it off.
Maple Leafs continue pressure
Scott Laughton springs Steven Lorentz for a breakaway, but Sergei Bobrovsky makes the save.
Sergei Bobrovsky save
Scott Laughton gets a breakaway, but Bobrovsky stops him. Maple Leafs are starting to get more chances and pressure after Florida controlled the early part of the game.
Leafs get first shot
Sergei Bobrovsky gets his arm on a William Nylander shot after a nice pass from John Tavares. That’s the first sustained Toronto pressure in the Florida zone.
Leafs get first shot attempt
Matthew Knies shoots wide. Still no shots on net.
Panthers getting chances
Shot attempts are 20-0 Florida after about seven minutes, but Maple Leafs are also blocking a lot of shots. They had 31 blocks in Game 6.
Game underway
Auston Matthews line vs. Aleksander Barkov line.
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
Starting lines
The Maple Leafs will start with the Auston Matthews line and the Panthers will start with Aleksander Barkov line.
Maple Leafs lineup
Panthers lineup
Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz in warmups
Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz took part in warmups Sunday and will be the backup. He hasn’t played since leaving Game 1. He took a shot off the mask and was hit in the head by Sam Bennett, later got sick to his stomach and was taken to the hospital for evaluation.
Panthers’ Evan Rodrigues playing
Evan Rodrigues, who missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury, will play, according to the NHL roster report. Jesper Boqvist, who had replaced him, is listed as a scratch.
How Maple Leafs fared vs. Hurricanes
If the Maple Leafs win Sunday, they would face the Hurricanes for the first time in the playoffs since the 2002 conference final. Carolina won that series in six games.
Toronto went 2-1 against the Hurricanes during the 2024-25 regular season, outscoring them 13-10.
How Panthers fared vs. Hurricanes
If the Panthers win Sunday, it would bring about a rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference final. Florida swept that series with every game a one-goal victory.
Florida went 2-1 against the Hurricanes during the 2024-25 regular season, outscoring them 13-6.
Previous 2025 Game 7s featured third-period comebacks
The NHL’s other two Game 7s this postseason featured comebacks from two-goal deficits in the third period.
The Dallas Stars trailed 2-0 early in the third period, but Mikko Rantanen had three goals and an assist to defeat the Colorado Avalanche 4-2.
Winnipeg scored twice in the final two minutes to tie the St. Louis Blues 3-3 and Jets captain Adam Lowry won in double overtime.
Brad Marchand unbeaten against Toronto in Game 7s
‘These are the games you talk about forever,’ he told reporters.
Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies ‘good to go’ for Game 7
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.
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers predictions: Who will win Game 7?
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.