The Florida Panthers are moving on to conference final. Florida showed up and showed out in Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, breaking the hearts of everyone inside and outside Scotiabank Arena with a 6-1 victory on Sunday night. The Panthers got off to a much stronger start than they did in Game 6, registering eight shots on goal before the first TV timeout and controlling play for much of the early stages of the opening period. Shot attempts were 21-0 in favor of Florida through the game’s first seven minutes. Toronto’s first two shots of the game were of the high danger variety, but Sergei Bobrovsky came up with big stops on William Nylander and Bobby McMann. A few minutes later it was Steven Lorentz following in Nylander and McMann’s footsteps and getting behind Florida’s back line, but once again it was Bobrovsky making a strong save. It wasn’t until about three minutes into the second period that Florida finally broke the ice. A great play along the boards in the neutral zone by Evan Rodrigues sent Seth Jones and Sam Reinhart on an odd-man rush. Toronto’s defense collapsed on Reinhart, allowing Jones plenty of time and space in the right circle, and he went bar down past Joseph Woll’s blocker to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Florida doubled their lead a few minutes later and it was Brad Marchand who sparked the play. Keeping the puck alive in Toronto’s zone, Marchand fired a quick shot on Woll from the half boards and Anton Lundell was there to pounce on the rebound, putting the Panthers up 2-0 and further silencing the Scotiabank Arena crowd. The Florida onslaught continued just over two minutes later when Jonah Gadjovich converted a cross-crease pass from A.J. Greer, making it 3-0 Panthers at the 9:39 mark. Early in the third period, Toronto caught Florida in a line change and Max Domi fired a shot that beat Sergei Bobrovsky between the legs to get Toronto on the board. Less than a minute later, Eetu Luostarinen deflected a shot by Brad Marchand between Woll’s blocker and the goal post, restoring Florida’s three-goal lead and immediately taking the wind out of the sails of Toronto and their fans. A Sasha Barkov faceoff win led directly to a goal by Sam Reinhart with just over 10 minutes go to, after which a fan continued the trend of throwing a Maple Leafs jersey on the ice out of disgust. Marchand added an empty-net goal, his third point of the game, with just over three minutes left to put the final nail in Toronto’s coffin. On to Carolina and the conference final. QUICK THOUGHTS Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice improved to a perfect 6-0 in Game 7s. Jones’ goal was his third of the postseason and first since Game 1 against Toronto. He added an assist on the Gadjovich goal. Rodrigues picked up the primary assist on Jones’ goal, his third helper in three games. Sasha Barkov also assisted on the goal by Jones, his first point since Game 4. Marchand finished the series against Toronto with three goals and eight points in seven games. Both Marchand and Luostarinen finished with a goal and an assist. Eetu is now up to three goals and 11 points during the playoffs. Reinhart’s goal was his fourth of the playoffs. He’s got 11 points through 12 games. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Brad Marchand Shares Excitement For Game 7 vs. Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/brad-marchand-shares-excitement-for-game-7-vs-maple-leafs] Matthew Tkachuk Has Big Message Ahead Of Game 7 vs. Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/matthew-tkachuk-has-big-message-ahead-of-game-7-vs-maple-leafs] Panthers have been good under Paul Maurice when facing elimination, historically in Game 7s [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-have-been-good-under-paul-maurice-when-facing-elimination-historically-in-game-7s] Panthers back in Toronto for Game 7, looking for third straight trip to conference final [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-back-in-toronto-for-game-7-looking-for-third-straight-trip-to-conference-final] Should Panthers beat Toronto in Game 7, Eastern Conference Final begins Tuesday in Raleigh [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/should-panthers-beat-toronto-in-game-7-eastern-conference-final-begins-tuesday-in-raleigh] Photo caption: May 18, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (3) reacts after a goal by forward Jonah Gadjovich (12) against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of game seven of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
