For the Toronto Maple Leafs and their devoted fanbase, another season concludes with disappointment. The Florida Panthers delivered a decisive 6-1 defeat to the Leafs in Toronto during Game 7 of their second-round playoff series, securing their spot in the Eastern Conference Final for the third consecutive year.
After a scoreless first period, it seemed a thrilling Game 7 was in store. However, the Panthers quickly took control early in the second frame and never relinquished their lead. Defenseman Seth Jones, who had a standout performance, initiated a rapid burst of three Florida goals within just over six minutes.
This scoring spree visibly stunned the crowd at Scotiabank Arena, and Toronto struggled to respond on the ice. Florida dominated possession and added three more goals in the third period to solidify their commanding victory.
By the game`s conclusion, the home crowd was booing their own team, which had notably faltered after initially taking a 2-0 series lead. It was an unfortunate scene, with some fans throwing objects onto the ice.
Meanwhile, the Panthers` quest to defend their Stanley Cup title continues successfully. Beyond Jones`s strong game, key contributions came from Aleksander Barkov (two assists), Brad Marchand (three points), and Sergei Bobrovsky (20 saves).
The Panthers are now set to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference finals, a rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference Final, which Florida won via a sweep.
In the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars earned their place against the Edmonton Oilers following a dramatic overtime victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night. Thomas Harley scored the game-winning goal, sending Dallas to the Western Conference Final for the third year in a row.
Here is the complete schedule for the upcoming conference finals and results from the earlier rounds:
Western Conference Final
(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
- Game 1: Wednesday, May 21 | 8 p.m. | at Dallas | ESPN/ESPN+
- Game 2: Friday, May 23 | 8 p.m. | at Dallas | ESPN/ESPN+
- Game 3: Sunday, May 25 | 3 p.m. | at Edmonton | ABC/ESPN+
- Game 4: Tuesday, May 27 | 8 p.m. | at Edmonton | ESPN/ESPN+
- *Game 5: Thursday, May 29 | 8 p.m. | at Dallas | ESPN/ESPN+
- *Game 6: Saturday, May 31 | 8 p.m. | at Edmonton | ABC/ESPN+
- *Game 7: Monday, June 2 | 8 p.m. | at Dallas | ESPN/ESPN+
Eastern Conference Final
(2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) Florida Panthers
- Game 1: Tuesday, May 20 | 8 p.m. | at Carolina | TNT, truTV, Max
- Game 2: Thursday, May 22 | 8 p.m. | at Carolina | TNT, truTV, Max
- Game 3: Saturday, May 24 | 8 p.m. | at Florida | TNT, truTV, Max
- Game 4: Monday, May 26 | 8 p.m. | at Florida | TNT, truTV, Max
- *Game 5: Wednesday, May 28 | 8 p.m. | at Carolina | TNT, truTV, Max
- *Game 6: Friday, May 30 | 8 p.m. | at Florida | TNT, truTV, Max
- *Game 7: Sunday, June 1 | 8 p.m. | at Carolina | 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
Elton Marrow