The Florida Panthers are on the brink of elimination after a heartbreaking 2-0 shutout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 6. Now, with the series tied at one game apiece, the Panthers must win on Sunday’s Game 7 to avoid a series sweep.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice has previously coached in similar situations, including a must-win Game 7 scenario as a junior coach in the Memorial Cup decades ago. Maurice remembered his team saying they needed to win the game because it might be their last organized hockey game, a sentiment he believes still applies today.
However, unlike Maurice’s team back then, the Panthers are filled with players under contract, making the stakes different. Despite this, Maurice believes that playing like it’s the last game can give teams an edge in Game 7s. “There’s a freedom to Game 7 that, it’s not like any other,” he said.
The Panthers’ Game 7 against the Maple Leafs will be their third this year, having previously played in Game 7s during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs and 2025 Stanley Cup Final. With Maurice’s 5-0 record in Game 7s, the Panthers have earned the right to play with freedom and intensity on Sunday. The game is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena.
Source: https://www.nhl.com/news/florida-panthers-feel-pressure-ahead-of-game-7-against-toronto-maple-leafs