It was another year of playoff disappointment for the Toronto Maple Leafs and their dedicated fanbase. In the decisive Game 7 of their second-round series held in Toronto, the Florida Panthers delivered a dominant performance, routing the Leafs 6-1. With this victory, the Panthers advanced to the Eastern Conference Final for the third consecutive season.
The game was scoreless after the first period, hinting at a potentially tight Game 7 showdown. However, the Panthers quickly seized control early in the second period and maintained their advantage. Florida scored three goals in rapid succession, finding the back of the net three times within a span of 6:24.
This scoring burst stunned the crowd at Scotiabank Arena, and the Toronto team had no effective response on the ice. The Panthers significantly outplayed the Leafs, dominating puck possession and territorial advantage. They added three more goals in the third period to emphatically seal the win.
By the game`s end, frustrated Toronto fans were booing their team, which had faltered significantly after initially taking a 2-0 lead in the series. The scene grew ugly as some spectators threw objects onto the ice.
Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers` pursuit of the Stanley Cup Final continues. Key contributors to their decisive Game 7 win included Aleksander Barkov, who recorded two assists, and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who stopped 20 shots.
The Panthers are now set to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final. This matchup is a rematch of the 2023 conference final, where Florida swept Carolina.
In the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars booked their ticket to the final by defeating the Winnipeg Jets in a dramatic overtime finish on Saturday night. Thomas Harley scored the winning goal in overtime, sending Dallas to the Western Conference Final for the third straight year. They will now face the Edmonton Oilers.
Western Conference Final
(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
Game 1: Wednesday, May 21 | 8 p.m. | at DAL | ESPN/ESPN+
Game 2: Friday, May 23 | 8 p.m. | at DAL | ESPN/ESPN+
Game 3: Sunday, May 25 | 3 p.m. | at EDM | ABC/ESPN+
Game 4: Tuesday, May 27 | 8 p.m. | at EDM | ESPN/ESPN+
*Game 5: Thursday, May 29 | 8 p.m. | at DAL | ESPN/ESPN+
*Game 6: Saturday, May 31 | 8 p.m. | at EDM | ABC/ESPN+
*Game 7: Monday, June 2 | 8 p.m. | at DAL | ESPN/ESPN+
Eastern Conference Final
(2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) Florida Panthers
Game 1: Tuesday, May 20 | 8 p.m. | at CAR | TNT, truTV, Max
Game 2: Thursday, May 22 | 8 p.m. | at CAR | TNT, truTV, Max
Game 3: Saturday, May 24 | 8 p.m. | at FLA | TNT, truTV, Max
Game 4: Monday, May 26 | 8 p.m. | at FLA | TNT, truTV, Max
*Game 5: Wednesday, May 28 | 8 p.m. | at CAR | TNT, truTV, Max
*Game 6: Friday, May 30 | 8 p.m. | at FLA | TNT, truTV, Max
*Game 7: Sunday, June 1 | 8 p.m. | at CAR | TNT, truTV, Max
Round 2 Results
(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3) Florida Panthers
Game 1: Maple Leafs 5, Panthers 4
Game 2: Maple Leafs 4, Panthers 3
Game 3: Panthers 5, Maple Leafs 4 (OT)
Game 4: Panthers 2, Maple Leafs 0
Game 5: Panthers 6, Maple Leafs 1
Game 6: Maple Leafs 2, Panthers 0
Game 7: Panthers 6, Maple Leafs 1
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (2) Carolina Hurricanes
Game 1: Hurricanes 2, Capitals 1 (OT)
Game 2: Capitals 3, Hurricanes 1
Game 3: Hurricanes 4, Capitals 0
Game 4: Hurricanes 5, Capitals 2
Game 5: Hurricanes 3, Capitals 1
(1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (2) Dallas Stars
Game 1: Stars 3, Jets 2
Game 2: Jets 4, Stars 0
Game 3: Stars 5, Jets 2
Game 4: Stars 3, Jets 1
Game 5: Jets 4, Stars 0
Game 6: Stars 2, Jets 1 (OT)
(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
Game 1: Oilers 4, Golden Knights 2
Game 2: Oilers 5, Golden Knights 4 (OT)
Game 3: Golden Knights 4, Oilers 3
Game 4: Oilers 3, Golden Knights 0
Game 5: Oilers 1, Golden Knights 0 (OT)
Round 1 Results
(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (WC1) Ottawa Senators
Game 1: Maple Leafs 6, Senators 2
Game 2: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT)
Game 3: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT)
Game 4: Senators 4, Maple Leafs 3 (OT)
Game 5: Senators 4, Maple Leafs 0
Game 6: Maple Leafs 4, Senators 2
(2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3) Florida Panthers
Game 1: Panthers 6, Lightning 2
Game 2: Panthers 2, Lightning 0
Game 3: Lightning 5, Panthers 1
Game 4: Panthers 4, Lightning 2
Game 5: Panthers 6, Lightning 3
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Montreal Canadiens
Game 1: Capitals 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)
Game 2: Capitals 3, Canadiens 1
Game 3: Canadiens 6, Capitals 3
Game 4: Capitals 5, Canadiens 2
Game 5: Capitals 4, Canadiens 1
(2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) New Jersey Devils
Game 1: Hurricanes 4, Devils 1
Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Devils 1
Game 3: Devils 3, Hurricanes 2 (2OT)
Game 4: Hurricanes 5, Devils 2
Game 5: Hurricanes 5, Devils 4 (2OT)
(1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC2) St. Louis Blues
Game 1: Jets 5, Blues 3
Game 2: Jets 2, Blues 1
Game 3: Blues 7, Jets 2
Game 4: Blues 5, Jets 1
Game 5: Jets 5, Blues 3
Game 6: Blues 5, Jets 2
Game 7: Jets 4, Blues 3 (2OT)
(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Colorado Avalanche
Game 1: Avalanche 5, Stars 1
Game 2: Stars 4, Avalanche 3 (OT)
Game 3: Stars 2, Avalanche 1 (OT)
Game 4: Avalanche 4, Stars 0
Game 5: Stars 6, Avalanche 2
Game 6: Avalanche 7, Stars 4
Game 7: Stars 4, Avalanche 2
(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Minnesota Wild
Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Wild 2
Game 2: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2
Game 3: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2
Game 4: Golden Knights 4, Wild 3 (OT)
Game 5: Golden Knights 3, Wild 2 (OT)
Game 6: Golden Knights 3, Wild 2
(2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
Game 1: Kings 6, Oilers 5
Game 2: Kings 6, Oilers 2
Game 3: Oilers 7, Kings 4
Game 4: Oilers 4, Kings 3 (OT)
Game 5: Oilers 3, Kings 1
Game 6: Oilers 6, Kings 4
