The Florida Panthers are heading back to Canada. Florida had the chance to knock out the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night in Game 6 at Amerant Bank Arena, but the visitors had other plans. Toronto did a good job limiting Florida’s offensive opportunities and received a strong game in net from Joesph Woll, taking down the Panthers 2-0 and forcing a deciding Game 7 on Sunday night. It should be a doozie. Let’s get to the Game 6 takeaways: NOT GETTING SHOTS THROUGH Florida only registered 21 shots on goal in Game 6, which is a far cry from their normal level of offensive output on home ice. During their two home games in the series, the Cats averaged 36.5 shots, and for the series they averaged 32.4 shots entering Game 6. While they only mustered the 21 shots, they came on 80 shot attempts. Thirty-one of those attempts were blocked by the Leafs, a recurring theme in the series. Ultimately, Florida’s possession was there, the attempts were there, but they just couldn’t get their shots through and on goal. “I think they've had a big number the entire series, we kind of expect that” Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said of the shot blocks. “I just thought we were late getting it off our stick. I thought we were waving the gun a lot, but didn't want to pull the trigger on a few. It just made people nervous.” LEAFS PK WAS VERY STRONG Toronto went a perfect 4-for-4 on the penalty kill in Game 6. It wasn’t just the overall kills that were effective, but it was the way they kept Florida from generating much of anything in terms of scoring chances. Through four power plays, Florida logged just one shot while on the man advantage. Additionally, all four of the Panthers’ power play scoring chances came during the first period on their first two power play opportunities. “I thought what you saw from our team five on five was also true five on four,” Maurice said. “We were late getting it off or sticks, we were looking for something maybe slightly better. They did a good job of it, for sure. Our entries are usually a little cleaner than they were tonight, because we got hung up the line quite a bit, but they were good. We’ve got to be better.” OFFENCE IS LACKING As often happens during the playoffs, the tight checking, defensive side of the game is shining through as this series wraps up. It hadn’t been that way the whole time, though. The first three games of this series saw Florida and Toronto combine to score 25 goals, and all three were one-goal games, too. Since then, we’ve had a pair of 2-0 shutouts and the oddball Game 5 in which Florida scored several goals that came off fortunate bounces, deflections and screens. “We have two pretty good offensive teams and there really isn't a whole lot to be had out there,” Maurice said. “They played hard, we played hard. It was tight, we had probably four go in last game that I'm not sure you're counting on that happening on a regular basis, or even every 10 or 20 games, right? We had a couple go in off sticks. So when you get into a 0-0, game, It’s going to be tight.” LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Panthers falter on home ice, heading back to Toronto for Game 7 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-falter-on-home-ice-heading-back-to-toronto-for-game-7] The Hockey Show: Panthers looking to finish off Toronto, conference final matchups forming, new coaching hires [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/the-hockey-show-panthers-looking-to-finish-off-toronto-conference-final-matchups-forming-new-coaching-hires] Panthers Forward Has Powerful Message For Game 6 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-forward-has-powerful-message-for-game-6] Panthers Forward Out For Game 6 vs. Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-forward-out-for-game-6-vs-maple-leafs] Brad Marchand Says This About Maple Leafs Ahead Of Game 6 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/brad-marchand-says-this-about-maple-leafs-ahead-of-game-6]
