Toronto Maple Leafs showed signs of life, led by Auston Matthews. A decisive 2-0 victory on the road against the Florida Panthers in Game 6 ensured the series will go the distance, forcing a Game 7 back in Toronto.
Matthews entered Friday`s crucial contest without a goal in the series, during which the Leafs saw their initial 2-0 series lead evaporate into a 3-2 deficit. Facing immense pressure in an elimination scenario, Matthews rose to the occasion.
Just over six minutes into the third period, Matthews finally broke the deadlock. Driving into the offensive zone on the rush, he fired a powerful shot, a `laser,` past goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. This goal was his first of the series and provided the crucial opening marker for Toronto at a pivotal moment.
Later in the same period, veteran forward Max Pacioretty secured an insurance goal, his third of the playoffs. He completed a beautiful pass from Bobby McMann by driving hard to the net and finishing the play.
Another key factor for the Leafs was the performance of goaltender Joseph Woll. Bouncing back from a difficult Game 5 where he allowed five goals on only 25 shots, Woll was perfect tonight, stopping all 22 shots faced from the Panthers en route to a shutout win.
Following another night of intense NHL playoff action, here are the standout performers, our 3 Stars of the Night.
3. Max Pacioretty | LW | Maple Leafs
In recent seasons, Pacioretty has often seemed like a player nearing the end of his career. However, in these playoffs, he has rediscovered his form, delivering another strong performance.
In Game 6, Pacioretty provided a crucial insurance goal late in the third period. He got to the net ahead of Nate Schmidt and deflected a perfect pass from McMann into the goal, giving Toronto a vital two-goal cushion. For the Leafs to win the series, contributions from depth players are essential, and Pacioretty delivered exactly that.
2. Joseph Woll | G | Maple Leafs
Joseph Woll, similar to many of his teammates, had a very poor performance in Game 5. There were questions about whether he could bounce back sufficiently to help force a Game 7, but he was flawless on Friday. While the Leafs` defense helped limit opportunities, Woll handled everything that reached him.
The Panthers registered only 22 shots on goal against Woll, and he stopped every single one. According to Natural Stat Trick, he faced just four high-danger chances but made crucial saves when needed. Ultimately, Woll saved 1.11 goals above expected and prevented all seven Florida rebound opportunities. If he can maintain this level of play in Game 7, Toronto has a real chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Final.
1. Auston Matthews | C | Maple Leafs
Perhaps no player was under greater scrutiny than Auston Matthews. The Leafs` captain finally broke his scoring drought, netting the decisive game-winner in a must-win Game 6.
Florida had largely contained Matthews throughout the series until he found a sliver of space to unleash a shot while joining the rush in the third period. It was a classic Matthews goal, featuring his incredibly quick and deceptive release, beating Bobrovsky and giving Toronto the late advantage. That timely goal must have felt like a massive burden lifted, and it will be fascinating to see if he can build on this momentum for a crucial Game 7.
Elton Marrow