NEW YORK (May 17, 2025) — The Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers will take center stage Sunday night when the Atlantic Division rivals meet in Game 7 of their Second Round series at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto (7:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, CBC, TVAS, TNT, truTV, MAX).

The winner of Sunday’s showdown, the first Game 7 pitting the Maple Leafs against the Panthers, will advance to the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will feature at least one Game 7 for the fourth consecutive season and for the 16th time in the past 17 postseasons.

The Toronto-Florida clash comes two weeks after a pair of historic Game 7s capped off First Round play, when Mikko Rantanen scored the only single-period hat trick in Game 7 history and less than 24 hours later Cole Perfetti tallied the latest tying goal in Game 7 history. The achievements helped the Stars and Jets, respectively, stage multi-goal, third-period comeback wins on consecutive days – there had been only three such rallies in the previous 198 all-time Game 7s before that.

The Maple Leafs will contest their 28th all-time Game 7 (12-15), which ranks second in NHL history behind the Bruins (31 GP). Toronto is 7-3 in Game 7s at home and will host a Game 7 for the third time in five years, following a 3-1 loss to Montreal in the 2021 First Round and a 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay in the 2022 First Round. The Maple Leafs are seeking their first Game 7 win (overall and at home) since the 2004 Conference Quarterfinals against Ottawa. Their run of six consecutive Game 7 defeats is tied with Ottawa (0-6) for the second longest stretch in NHL history behind Colorado (0-7); all three runs are active.

The Panthers will contest a Game 7 for the third straight year and fifth time overall (3-1). Their most recent appearance culminated in the first Stanley Cup in franchise history, a 2-1 home win over Edmonton in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

Florida is 2-0 on the road in Game 7s, their most recent win being a 4-3 overtime triumph at Boston in the 2023 First Round that eliminated a Bruins team that had compiled an NHL-record 135 points in the regular season. Florida can become the third franchise to win each of its first three road Game 7s, joining the Penguins and Wild.

Forty-one players between the two clubs have played in a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs (Toronto 23, Florida 18), making 113 total appearances (Toronto 64, Florida 49). Florida’s roster includes 13 players who helped them win Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last year.

Forward Brad Marchand will appear in his first Game 7 with Florida and 13th overall, which will be the most among active players and tied for third all-time on a list topped by Patrice Bergeron (14), Zdeno Chara (14), Patrick Roy (13) and Scott Stevens (13). Marchand (7-5) can match the NHL record for career Game 7 wins by a player (skater or goaltender), a list that includes one active member (Ryan McDonagh: 8-2).

Marchand is facing the Maple Leafs in a playoff series for the fifth time, and all five have gone to seven games (4-0). He is aiming to become the first player in NHL history to defeat one franchise in at least five winner-take-all games.

Behind the bench, both head coaches boast a Game 7 win in the Stanley Cup Final, Florida’s Paul Maurice in 2024 and Toronto’s Craig Berube (with St. Louis) in 2019. Maurice (5-0) is one of two head coaches in League history to win each of his first five career Game 7s, along with current Dallas bench boss Peter DeBoer (9-0). Berube (2-1 as head coach, 1-2 as player) has Game 7 experience on the ice and behind the bench.

Game 7 Trends

* The team that scores first is 150-50 (.750) in the 200 all-time Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (0-2 in 2025).

* Home teams own a 118-82 (.590) edge in the 200 all-time Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (2-0 in 2025).

* 104 of the 200 all-time Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (52.0%) have been decided by a one-goal margin, including one of two in 2025.

* 50 Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs have required overtime (25.0%). Home teams have a 27-23 edge in those contests (1-0 in 2025).

Quick Links

#NHLStatsPack on Maple Leafs-Panthers Game 7

All-Time Game 7 standings (Records.NHL.com)

All Game 7 results (Records.NHL.com)