The Toronto Maple Leafs return to Scotiabank Arena for Game 7 against the Florida Panthers with confidence, momentum, and the weight of two decades of playoff frustration resting squarely on their shoulders. Following a clutch 2–0 victory in Game 6 in Sunrise, the Leafs have forced a winner-take-all finale and are hoping to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2002. That effort was headlined by the breakout of rookie goaltender Joseph Woll, who stepped into the starting role in place of the injured Anthony Stolarz and delivered a flawless 22-save shutout in his first career postseason start. Woll’s composure and rebound control were critical, and his emergence has given Toronto a late-series lift in an area that had been a question mark throughout the playoffs. Offensively, the Leafs finally got what they needed from Auston Matthews, who scored his first goal of the series in Game 6 and appears poised for a potential breakout performance at the most crucial moment. Matthews’ ability to find open ice and unleash his quick-release wrist shot remains Toronto’s most dangerous weapon, and if his confidence returns in full, it could open up more space for Mitch Marner and William Nylander to operate as secondary scoring threats. Marner has been especially active in transition and has started to find more high-danger opportunities, while Nylander’s creativity and ability to maneuver through tight spaces make him a constant threat below the dots. The Leafs have also received valuable depth contributions from veterans like Max Pacioretty, who netted the insurance goal in Game 6 and continues to bring physicality and playoff savvy.

Toronto’s blue line, led by Morgan Rielly and Jake McCabe, has played its most structured hockey of the series, limiting Florida’s zone entries and boxing out traffic in front of the net. Defensively, the team has tightened up at just the right time, keeping the Panthers to the perimeter and avoiding the kind of breakdowns that led to earlier losses in the series. Head coach Craig Berube’s emphasis on discipline and energy control has paid off, with the team playing within its system and keeping the emotion of the rivalry from spilling into recklessness. One lingering concern is the status of Matthew Knies, who remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury. His absence slightly thins Toronto’s bottom six and reduces their speed on the forecheck, though reinforcements have stepped up in his place. Special teams will be under the spotlight once again—the Leafs’ power play has lacked finish but remains dangerous, while their penalty kill must stay aggressive to neutralize a Panthers unit that thrives on rebounds and net-front chaos. With a 5–1 ATS record in their last six home games, and a roaring Scotiabank Arena crowd expected to create a playoff cauldron, Toronto has the momentum and the stage set to finally rewrite their postseason script. A disciplined, fast start and continued excellence from Woll could be the difference in pushing the Maple Leafs into the next round and lifting the weight of years of near-misses and heartbreak.