The Florida Panthers are heading to the Eastern Conference Final for the third year in a row. They achieved this by soundly defeating the Maple Leafs with a 6-1 scoreline on Sunday night in Toronto.
A key player for Florida in this decisive game was defenseman Seth Jones, who arguably delivered one of the finest performances of his career. Jones contributed significantly on offense, scoring a goal and adding an assist. His defensive play was equally impressive, as he controlled the flow during his five-on-five shifts and effectively transitioned the puck from defense to attack following turnovers.
Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov also demonstrated his immense value to the team. Despite consistently facing the toughest assignments, he managed to impact the game offensively without compromising his defensive responsibilities.
For the fourth consecutive game, Sergei Bobrovsky was nearly impenetrable in the Panthers` net. While Florida`s strong play limited the shots he faced, Bobrovsky remained sharp and made crucial saves on the few occasions the Leafs managed to break through the defense.
Following this significant Game 7 victory, let`s highlight the top performers by naming the 3 Stars of the Night.
3. Sergei Bobrovsky | G | Florida Panthers
In the initial three games of the series, Bobrovsky appeared shaky, allowing a combined 13 goals as Florida fell behind 2-1. However, he rediscovered his elite form in Game 4 and has maintained that level ever since.
During Sunday night`s game, Bobrovsky wasn`t constantly tested, thanks to the Panthers largely controlling play. Nevertheless, he was called upon to make a few critical saves. Early in the first period, with the score still tied, Bobrovsky made timely stops, including a standout denial where he stretched out to stone Scott Laughton on a breakaway. This pivotal save prevented the Maple Leafs from potentially altering the game`s momentum.
2. Aleksander Barkov | C | Florida Panthers
This game served as another clear illustration of Barkov`s importance to the Panthers` success. Beyond his two points on the scoresheet, his most significant impact came on the defensive side. Barkov was matched against Toronto`s top players and consistently excelled in those minutes.
Barkov registered assists on goals by Seth Jones and Sam Reinhart, playing integral roles in both plays. However, his defensive prowess truly stood out. Facing top lines featuring players like Mitchell Marner, Auston Matthews, and Matthew Knies at five-on-five, Barkov posted impressive expected goals shares (68.6%, 61.6%, and 61.5% respectively, according to Natural Stat Trick). His performance in Game 7 solidified his reputation as potentially the best defensive forward in hockey.
1. Seth Jones | D | Florida Panthers
The playoffs have marked a significant resurgence for Seth Jones, a player who had struggled on less successful teams before his acquisition by the Panthers at the trade deadline this year. Jones has found new life in Florida and was the undisputed star of Game 7 against the Maple Leafs.
Jones opened the scoring by opting to shoot on a 2-on-1 rush, a decision that paid off spectacularly as his shot rocketed over Joseph Woll`s shoulder and under the crossbar. Later in the same period, he initiated the odd-man rush that led to Jonah Gadjovich`s goal, making the score 3-0. Jones was highly involved throughout the game; perhaps his most impressive play, though disallowed, further highlighted his impact. Defensively, the Panthers dominated Toronto when Jones was on the ice at five-on-five.
