The Florida Panthers have successfully advanced to the Eastern Conference Final for the third consecutive season. They secured their spot by convincingly defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs with a dominant 6-1 victory in front of the Toronto crowd on Sunday night.
A standout performer for Florida and a major challenge for Toronto was defenseman Seth Jones, who delivered one of the most impressive games of his career. Jones was effective offensively, contributing a goal and an assist. His defensive play was equally remarkable; he controlled his five-on-five minutes and effectively transitioned from defending to attacking after turnovers.
Additionally, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov once again demonstrated his critical importance to the team. Despite consistently drawing the toughest matchups against the opposition`s top lines, he managed to make an offensive impact without compromising his defensive responsibilities.
In goal, Sergei Bobrovsky continued his strong play, appearing nearly unbeatable for the Panthers for the fourth straight contest. While Florida`s defense limited the shots he faced, Bobrovsky remained sharp and made key saves on the rare occasions the Maple Leafs were able to break through.
Following this decisive performance that clinched the series, let`s highlight the best players from the game with the `3 Stars of the Night`.
3. Sergei Bobrovsky | G | Florida Panthers
In the initial games of this series, Bobrovsky`s performance was a concern, as he allowed 13 goals in the first three contests, contributing to Florida trailing 2-1. However, starting in Game 4, he regained his elite form and has maintained that high level of play since. In Sunday`s game, Bobrovsky didn`t face an overwhelming number of shots due to his teammates` strong defense, but he was exceptional when called upon. A crucial moment came in the first period with the game still scoreless, where he made timely saves, including a vital sprawling denial on Scott Laughton`s breakaway that could have significantly shifted the momentum.
2. Aleksander Barkov | C | Florida Panthers
This game served as another clear example of Barkov`s invaluable presence for the Panthers` success. While he contributed two points to the score sheet, his most significant impact was on the defensive side. Barkov was consistently matched against Toronto`s top offensive threats and excelled in limiting their effectiveness. He assisted on goals by Seth Jones and Sam Reinhart, playing integral roles in developing those scoring plays. However, his defensive metrics truly stand out; according to Natural Stat Trick, he recorded strong expected goals percentages when facing top players like Mitchell Marner (68.6%), Auston Matthews (61.6%), and Matthew Knies (61.5%). Widely recognized as one of hockey`s premier defensive forwards, Barkov reinforced that reputation in this important game.
1. Seth Jones | D | Florida Panthers
Acquired by the Panthers at this year`s trade deadline after a challenging tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks, Seth Jones has experienced a significant revival in Florida during these playoffs. He was the undeniable star of this game against the Maple Leafs. Jones opened the scoring by electing to shoot on a 2-on-1 rush, unleashing a powerful shot that found the top corner over Joseph Woll`s shoulder. Later in the same period, Jones initiated the odd-man rush that resulted in Jonah Gadjovich scoring to make it 3-0. Jones was impactful across the ice, even having a remarkable goal disallowed. Defensively, Florida dominated Toronto at five-on-five whenever Jones was on the ice, showcasing his overall strong performance.
