Maple Leafs force Game 7 with a shutout victory over the Florida Panthers: Live updates and reaction

You can count on the Panthers reviewing tape before Game 7 to try and find some answers for their power play.

This series might be over if they were just a tick better with the man advantage.

Florida went 0-for-4 in Friday’s game to drop their total to 4-for-22 (18.2 percent) in the series. That included two missed opportunities in the first period of Game 6 and an ineffective look in the third period after they’d fallen behind 1-0. With that golden chance to tie the game, they were unable to even get set up in the offensive zone.

The Panthers were above average with the man advantage during the regular season, connecting on 23.5 percent of their opportunities to sit 13th in the league.

Earlier in the series, Florida coach Paul Maurice said he liked his team’s process in those situations, even if the results weren’t coming. They’ve now got 36 hours to make some adjustments against an effective Leafs penalty kill.

There’s something in the water for Joseph Woll in South Florida. In Game 4 back in 2023 against the Panthers, Woll kept the Leafs season alive with a decisive 24-save effort for his first playoff win. After stopping 35 of 37 shots in Game 4 this year to further establish himself as dependable in the playoffs, Woll quietly had yet another stellar effort in Game 6.

By tracking pucks well, keeping his rebounds under control and generally looking poised in goal, Woll pitched his first-ever playoff shutout. He would stop all 22 shots he faced.

Woll didn’t necessarily have to make any highlight-reel saves, but that’s sort of the point: He was at his calm and composed best when the Leafs needed to be. The Panthers made a serious push in the second period, but Woll never looked fazed.

His performance also comes after allowing a soft goal in Game 5. Yes, no Leaf had a game to remember, but Woll being pulled had the potential to linger over him mentally. If Game 6 proved anything, it’s that it did not.

After taking a reverse hit from 6-foot-6 Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola behind the Panthers net late in the first period, Matthew Knies appeared in serious discomfort once he returned for the second period. The Leafs’ emerging playoff performer continually favored his left side on the bench. Knies hardly looked effective when he was on the ice: He pulled up on the forecheck and he was hardly decisive with the puck in the offensive zone. Knies’ usage for the second period ended up defying logic: Bobby McMann would take shifts on the top line and Max Pacioretty replaced Knies on the Leafs’ top power-play unit, but Knies would play on the penalty kill.

You can understand why Knies himself would want to stay in the game — he’s built a reputation as a tough, engaging forward who has earned a bigger role on the team. But giving him shifts still seemed to hamper the team. If Knies wasn’t as effective as he could have been, there were other players who could have used more ice time.

Auston Matthews became the second captain in Leafs history to score the game-winning goal when facing elimination, following Darryl Sittler in Game 6 of the 1976 Quarterfinals.

Craig Berube says he isn't sure if Matthew Knies will be healthy enough to play Game 7. No specifics provided on his injury.

Craig Berube coached the St. Louis Blues to a Stanley Cup with a Game 7 win over the Boston Bruins. He has some experience coaching in these big games.

"There's a lot on the line. Everything's on the line."

Auston Matthews broke the ice tonight with a critical third-period goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He called his team's performance tonight "gutsy."

"Just a gutsy win all around," Matthews said to Sportsnet postgame. "The job is not done yet."

Bobby McMann praised his team's start to Game 6, coming out with confidence to shut out the Florida Panthers.

"We were playing the right way," McMann said.

On playing in a Game 7: "It should be fun."

Toronto:

• Joseph Woll: 22 saves on 22 shots (1.000 SV%)

Florida:

• Sergei Bobrovsky: 15 saves on 17 shots (.882 SV%)

Joseph Woll, after recording his first playoff shutout, praised his group's ability to respond after a disappointing Game 5.

"A lot of confidence in our group," Woll said on how he's feeling after Game 6. He stopped all 20 Florida Panthers shots.

The Leafs got the game they needed from Auston Matthews. The game-winning goal that broke a 0-0 tie and a dominant effort controlling the puck.

Joseph Woll is the first Leafs goaltender to post a shutout in a game when facing elimination since Curtis Joseph in Game 5 of the 2002 conference finals.