The Florida Panthers are heading to the Eastern Conference Final for the third consecutive season after a dominant performance. They defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs convincingly, 6-1, playing in front of the Toronto crowd on Sunday.
A key factor in Toronto`s struggles during this game was Florida defenseman Seth Jones, who delivered one of the standout performances of his career. Jones made significant offensive contributions, scoring a goal and adding an assist. He was equally impressive defensively, controlling play during his five-on-five shifts and effectively transitioning the puck from defense to offense after gaining possession.
Furthermore, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov once again demonstrated his immense value to the team. While taking on the toughest defensive assignments against opposition top lines, he still managed to contribute offensively without sacrificing defensive integrity.
For the fourth straight game, Sergei Bobrovsky was nearly flawless in the Panthers` net. Credit must be given to Florida`s defense for limiting high-danger chances, but Bobrovsky was sharp and made crucial saves when the Maple Leafs did manage to penetrate the defense.
With another intense Game 7 completed, let`s acknowledge the top players from the night`s contest with the 3 Stars of the Night.
3. Sergei Bobrovsky | G | Florida Panthers
In the first three games of this series, Bobrovsky appeared to be struggling, allowing a combined 13 goals as Florida fell behind 2-1 in the series. However, starting with Game 4, Bobrovsky rediscovered his elite form and has maintained that high level of play ever since.
During Sunday`s game, Bobrovsky spent much of the time watching his teammates control the play and wear down the Maple Leafs, but he was called upon to make several important saves. In the first period, with the game still scoreless, Bobrovsky came up with timely stops. His most notable save was a sprawling denial of Scott Laughton on a breakaway. Had he not made that crucial stop, the momentum and direction of the entire game could have shifted significantly.
2. Aleksander Barkov | C | Florida Panthers
Tonight served as another clear illustration of Aleksander Barkov`s critical importance to the Panthers` success. While he did contribute with two points, his most impactful contributions were on the defensive side of the puck. Barkov consistently faced the most challenging matchups and excelled in those demanding minutes.
Barkov assisted on goals by Seth Jones and Sam Reinhart, playing an integral role in the setup of both plays. However, his defensive masterclass was the most prominent aspect of his game. Barkov spent considerable time at five-on-five matched against top Leafs players like Mitchell Marner, Auston Matthews, and Matthew Knies. According to Natural Stat Trick data, Barkov`s line controlled the expected goals share convincingly in these matchups (68.6%, 61.6%, and 61.5% respectively). There is arguably no better defensive forward in hockey, and Barkov reinforced that status emphatically in Game 7.
1. Seth Jones | D | Florida Panthers
These playoffs have marked a significant resurgence for Seth Jones, a player who seemed to be declining on struggling Chicago Blackhawks teams until his acquisition by the Panthers at this year`s trade deadline. Jones has been revitalized in Florida and was the undisputed star of Game 7 against the Maple Leafs.
Jones opened the scoring by choosing to shoot on a 2-on-1 rush. It proved to be the right decision as he unleashed a powerful shot that beat Joseph Woll just over the shoulder and under the crossbar. Later in the same period, Jones initiated the odd-man rush that led to Jonah Gadjovich`s goal, which extended Florida`s lead to 3-0. Jones was involved in plays all over the ice; arguably his most impressive sequence was on a goal that was ultimately disallowed. Defensively, Florida dominated Toronto at five-on-five whenever Jones was on the ice.
Elton Marrow