The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a turbulent second-round playoff series against the Florida Panthers.
After taking a 2-0 series lead, the Maple Leafs dropped three straight games before rebounding for an impressive 2-0 Game 6 win on Friday to send the series back to Toronto for a win-or-go-home Game 7.
For the first time this postseason, and just the second time since the new year, the Panthers were held off the scoresheet.
Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll, who’s filling in for injured starter Anthony Stolarz, who likely won’t be back until the conference final should Toronto make it that far, put up a 22-save shutout and stifled a Panthers offense that had been averaging 3.9 goals per game in the postseason.
It was also just the second time in the series that Brad Marchand was held without a point. He had five points in his first five games against the Maple Leafs.
Following Toronto’s series-tying Game 6 win, Maple Leafs forward Max Pacioretty, who scored one of the team’s two goals on Friday, sent a sharp four-word warning to the Panthers about what to expect in Game 7.
“We’re going to war,” Pacioretty boldly stated.
Pacioretty has had a strong series against the defending Stanley Cup champions.
The 36-year-old forward has scored two goals and six points in six games against the Panthers, and he has the fourth-most postseason points on the team (eight) behind only William Nylander (15), Mitch Marner (13), and Auston Matthews (11).
Though the Maples Leafs have a better playoff record at home (4-2) than they have on the road (3-3), the team has allowed more goals at Scotiabank Arena (21) than it has in opposing arenas (15).
Game 7 is on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on TNT, Max and TruTV.
-1744255230-q80.webp "BREAKING NEWS: Steelers Eye Top Chargers Draft Target Omarion Hampton, Could Break L.A.'s Draft Plans")
-1742531527-q80.webp "Nathan Lyon Escapes Scrutiny Over Usman Khawaja-Like Act, Australian Team Slammed For Double Standard")