The Toronto Maple Leafs are still alive, and so is Auston Matthews. A decisive Game 7 will take place in Toronto after the Maple Leafs secured a 2-0 road victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 6.
Entering Friday night, Matthews had yet to register a goal in the series, during which the Maple Leafs saw their 2-0 lead evaporate into a 3-2 deficit. Consequently, Matthews was under significant pressure heading into this must-win game, and he certainly delivered.
Just over six minutes into the third period, Matthews broke the scoreless tie, driving into the offensive zone on the rush before unleashing a blistering shot past Sergei Bobrovsky. This goal marked Matthews` first of the series and came at an absolutely critical moment for Toronto.
Later in the period, veteran forward Max Pacioretty doubled Toronto`s advantage with his third goal of the postseason. Pacioretty finished off a superb pass from Bobby McMann, who aggressively drove toward the net.Another key factor in the Maple Leafs` victory was the play of goaltender Joseph Woll, who bounced back emphatically from a challenging Game 5 performance where he allowed five goals on just 25 shots. In Game 6, Woll stopped all 22 shots faced from the Panthers, earning a crucial shutout.With another exciting night of the NHL playoffs complete, let`s recognize the top performers with our selection of the 3 Stars of the Night.3 Stars of the Night
3. Max Pacioretty | LW | Maple Leafs
For a significant part of the last couple of seasons, Pacioretty has seemed like a veteran player in the later stages of his career. However, during these playoffs, he has turned back the clock and delivered another strong performance tonight.
In Game 6, Pacioretty managed to score a vital insurance goal for the Maple Leafs late in the third period. He simply outmaneuvered Nate Schmidt to get to the net and tap home a perfect feed from McMann, giving Toronto some much-needed breathing room. For the Leafs to succeed in this series, they require contributions from their supporting players, and Pacioretty provided exactly that.2. Joseph Woll | G | Maple Leafs
Joseph Woll, like the rest of the Maple Leafs, had a difficult outing in Game 5. There were legitimate questions about whether he could recover sufficiently to help force a Game 7, but he was perfect on Friday. While Toronto`s defense helped by limiting high-quality chances, Woll was steadfast in stopping everything that came his way.
The Panthers directed only 22 shots towards Woll, and he denied every single one. According to Natural Stat Trick, he only needed to make four high-danger saves throughout the game, but he stepped up brilliantly when the situation demanded it. Ultimately, Woll saved 1.11 goals above average and prevented all seven rebound attempts Florida generated. If he can maintain this level of play in Game 7, Toronto might just find themselves in the Eastern Conference Final.1. Auston Matthews | C | Maple Leafs
Was any player under more intense scrutiny than Auston Matthews? That`s a rhetorical question. The Maple Leafs` captain had not scored at all in this series until he netted the decisive game-winner in a win-or-go-home Game 6.
The Panthers had largely kept Matthews contained for the majority of the series until he found just enough space to get a shot away off the rush in the third period. It was a classic Matthews goal, featuring his signature lethal release that caught Bobrovsky by surprise and secured a late lead for Toronto. That goal must have felt like an immense burden being lifted from Matthews` shoulders, and it will be incredibly interesting to see if this performance acts as a springboard for a clutch Game 7 showing.
