Maple Leafs Defeat Panthers 2-0, Force Game 7 in Toronto

SUNRISE, Fla. — There will be a winner-takes-all Game 7 on Sunday in Toronto after the Maple Leafs kept its season alive after defeating the Florida Panthers 2-0 in Game 6 at Amerant Bank Arena.

Toronto broke open the tight game 6:20 into the third when their captain Auston Matthews beat Sergei Bobrovsky down low for his first goal of the series, putting the Leafs up 1-0 with the eventual game-winner.

Joseph Woll had 21-saves in the shutout win on Friday night — bouncing back after giving up five goals and being pulled in Toronto’s 6-1 Game 5 loss last time out.

“They played really well — defended really well,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said of Toronto postgame. “We couldn’t score, didn’t have good enough chances to do it.

“Obviously it’s disappointing right now but we have a good chance in two days in Toronto.”

Max Pacioretty got the insurance marker with 5:43 to go in regulation, doubling the Leafs lead with his third goal of the postseason.

Sergei Bobrovsky gave up more than one goal for the first time since allowing four in Florida’s Game 3 win against the Leafs.

There’s no time to allow the emotional highs and lows marinate from Friday’s Game 6 with the be-all end-all Game 7 coming up on Sunday in Toronto.

“It’s about as honest as game as you’re going to find,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said about Game 7’s. “There’s no cheating in that game. That’s why they’re so much fun.”

Florida last played a Game 7 — and an elimination game — in the Stanley Cup Final last season against the Edmonton Oilers. After dropping three straight potential series clinching games, Florida won that game 2-1 to win the Stanley Cup.

The series’ winner will move on to the Eastern Conference Final and face the Carolina Hurricanes.