Panthers Eliminate Maple Leafs 6-1, Advance To Third Straight Eastern Final

The Toronto Maple Leafs suffered a crushing 6-1 defeat to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of their second-round playoff series, continuing a long history of Game 7 struggles. The Panthers dominated from the start, outshooting the Leafs 25-12 in the first two periods and scoring three goals in the second, a performance that led to boos and frustration from the home crowd. Key Leafs players like Joseph Woll, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner were notably ineffective in the game, with Woll allowing five goals and both Matthews and Marner fading as the game progressed. The loss raises serious questions about the future of the Leafs' core players, including free agents Marner and John Tavares, as the team has not won a Game 7 since 2004 or advanced beyond the second playoff round since 2002. Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers advanced to their third consecutive Eastern Conference Final, aiming for a third straight Stanley Cup Final appearance. The Game 7 defeat marked the Maple Leafs' eighth straight loss in winner-take-all games dating back to 2013, underscoring their ongoing postseason challenges.