(Photo: CBC, NHL)

The Toronto Maple Leafs have extended their playoff existence by blanking the Florida Panthers 2–0 in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series Friday evening in Sunrise, Florida. The victory ties the series at 3–3 and pushes a deciding Game 7 in Toronto on Sunday. The Maple leafs most recent game 7 triumph comes in 2004 against the Ottawa Senators. Most Leafs fans that have grown up in this era have never seen them win a game 7.

Auston Matthews, who had been goalless for the series, netted his first goal early in the third period to break the deadlock and provide the Leafs with the crucial lead. I said that if the Leafs wanted to win this series Matthews and Marner would have to play much better and they did tonight linking up on the eventual game winning goal. https://x.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1923560491231719700 

Max Pacioretty added an insurance marker halfway through the period to close out the win, Bobby Mcmann assisted a much needed point for him as he breaks a drought in these playoffs. 

Goaltender Joseph Woll had an outstanding game between the pipes, stopping 22 of 22 shots to record his first career playoff shutout. Woll has played in 3 elimination games now and he has a save percentage of above .930 in all of them he has played in now. Toronto’s defense was quite strong limiting Florida to just two shots on goal in the first period and none in the final 14 minutes of the period. The Panthers could not gain offensive momentum even with two power plays in the first period. The Panthers did have some chances with the goalie pulled but the Leafs were stubborn putting bodies in front of the net the leafs tonight played like a team who was fighting to keep there season alive. 

The victory is a massive turnaround for the Maple Leafs, who lost 6–1 in Game 5. The series is now tied, and both teams will fight it out in an elimination Game 7 in Toronto. The Maple Leafs aim to reach their first conference final since 2002, while the defending champion Panthers hope to advance to their third consecutive Eastern Conference Final.

Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday, with the winner advancing to the Eastern Conference Final.