TORONTO – The greatest, but most nerve-wracking two words in sports: Game 7.
With a trip to the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes on the line, the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs will meet Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena.
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Under head coach Paul Maurice, the Panthers are a perfect 2-0 in Game 7s – their most recent coming last June, when they captured their first Stanley Cup with a win over the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena.
In his career, Maurice is 5-0 in Game 7s.
“From going through it together countless times, it’s comforting. You know what you’re going to expect out of the guy next to you, and that’s his best at a time like this. We’re excited for another opportunity to play in another big game like this,” Sam Reinhart said, who scored the series-clinching goal against the Oilers.
The Panthers had a perfect opportunity to close out the series Friday night on home ice, but Joseph Woll had other ideas, stopping all 22 Florida shots during a 2-0 win after allowing five goals on 25 shots and being pulled in Game 5.
Toronto got third-period goals from Auston Matthews, his first against Florida in the playoffs, and Max Pacioretty.
“There’s a lot on the line. Everything’s on the line,” Maples Leafs head coach Craig Berube said.
The Maple Leafs are seeking their first Conference Final appearance since their six-game loss to the Hurricanes in 2002.
Dating back to May 2013, Toronto has lost six consecutive Game 7s.