Toronto Maple Leafs’ Six Consecutive Game 7 Losses: A Depressing Narrative Continues
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ latest Game 7 defeat to the Florida Panthers has left the team’s fans and players disheartened. The 6-1 loss marked the sixth consecutive time the Leafs have lost in Game 7, with the team’s core players failing to deliver in the biggest game of the season.
According to an article in The Athletic, the same Toronto Maple Leafs core who lost five straight Game 7s lost their sixth in a row in a humiliating 6-1 defeat to the Florida Panthers. The team stopped skating, defending, and trying to change the depressing narrative that has been swallowing them whole.
The Panthers, who won the Stanley Cup last season, clearly outperformed the Leafs when it mattered most. “We just didn’t handle the pressure [the Panthers] came with,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said, as reported by The Athletic.
The Second-Period Collapse
The Leafs’ collapse occurred over a six-minute and 24-second span in the second period, during which they allowed three goals. The Panthers’ first goal was a result of Morgan Rielly’s failed pinch attempt in the neutral zone, which eventually led to Anton Lundell scoring on a rebound.
As The Athletic noted, William Nylander stopped moving his feet while trying to defend in his own zone before the Panthers’ third goal. The team’s lack of effort and poor decision-making were evident, and the boos rained down on the Leafs in the second period.
Panthers’ Excellence Continues
The Florida Panthers have become the new gold standard for NHL franchises looking to turn their fortunes around quickly. Under the leadership of head coach Paul Maurice, who was hired on June 22, 2022, the Panthers have undergone a remarkable transformation.
As reported by The Athletic, since Maurice took over, the Panthers have won nine of their last 10 series, including their latest victory over the Leafs. Maurice attributed the team’s success to the work of general manager Bill Zito and the players he has brought into the team.
Berube’s Late Experimentation
Leafs coach Craig Berube attempted to shake things up by trying new combinations of players, but it was too little, too late. Berube began throwing different line combinations at the board, including pairing Max Domi and Max Pacioretty with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
However, as The Athletic noted, nothing seemed to work, and the team’s new combinations looked like they were born out of desperation.
Brad Marchand Shines
In contrast, Brad Marchand had a standout performance for the Panthers, scoring a goal and two assists in the decisive Game 7. The 37-year-old forward now has 37 playoff points against the Maple Leafs, second only to Gordie Howe’s 53.
Marchand, who was acquired from the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline, finished the series with a team-leading seven points. As quoted in The Athletic, Marchand said that he has learned to enjoy the pressure of Game 7, win or lose.
Leafs Stars Fail to Deliver
The biggest disappointment for the Leafs was the failure of their star players to deliver in the biggest game of the season. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander combined for zero points in Game 7.
As The Athletic reported, Berube attributed the team’s failure to execute, saying that it was “all between the ears” and a mindset issue. The Leafs’ inability to score in the biggest games has become a recurring theme, and it may be time for massive organisational change.
The team’s sixth consecutive Game 7 loss has left fans and players questioning what could have been. As the season comes to a close, the Leafs will have to regroup and reassess their strategy for next season.
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