Elliotte Friedman joined Sportsnet Central and didn’t hold back: “I think this is going to be incredible.” He and Dave Amber will be in the building Sunday night, and Friedman says there’s a different feeling around this Maple Leafs group.
Toronto has already climbed mountains this year—winning their division, beating Ottawa, and surviving a tough Game 6. But the one thing this core hasn’t done? Win a Game 7.
The Maple Leafs Face Three Big Problems
Friedman outlined three key concerns for Toronto:
- Florida is a great team. Simple as that. They’ve been here before and won big.
- Sergei Bobrovsky had an off night. That likely won’t happen twice. Expect him dialed in.
- Matthew Tkachuk hasn’t had a signature moment yet. Friedman wonders: “Does he save it for Game 7?”
Still, he believes the Maple Leafs are good enough to beat the Panthers. But there’s one big if: how they respond if something goes wrong early. “If the building gets nervous,” Friedman said, “they have to be able to overcome that.”
The moment is massive, and the ghosts are real. But the Maple Leafs have a shot to make history—and maybe become the second Canadian team to advance to the conference finals.
Why the Maple Leafs Might Be Ready to Make the Big Jump
There are real signs this Maple Leafs team has grown beyond its past failures. Auston Matthews finally got his first playoff goal against the Panthers in Game 6—and it was the game-winner, a captain’s moment. Mitch Marner picked up his 50th career playoff assist. And Joseph Woll delivered a shutout when facing elimination, the kind of calm presence in net this team has desperately needed.
This isn’t about style points anymore. It’s about toughness, timing, and belief. Under Craig Berube, Toronto has played with more structure and resilience. When Florida pushed in Game 6, the Maple Leafs didn’t fold—they responded.
And maybe most importantly: they’ve stopped talking about learning and started showing it. The pressure is still enormous, but for once, this team looks like it might actually be built for it.
If there’s ever been a moment for Toronto to rewrite the script, this is it.
In a Game 7, Reputations Can Be Created – or Shattered
Game 7s are where reputations are made—or shattered. The Maple Leafs haven’t won enough of them to shed their ghosts, and fans know all too well how much pain can follow these moments. But heading into tonight’s win-or-go-home battle with the Florida Panthers, a few key players on the Maple Leafs’ roster could swing the story.
Maple Leafs fans have to hope they will do just that.
Related: Berube’s Game 6 Lineup Revealed Maple Leafs’ Identity
