It was history that awaited the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the chance of making it to the Conference Finals for the first time in 23 years, Craig Berube’s boys had immense pressure on them to win Game 7 against the Panthers in Round 1 of the Eastern Conference. And yet, it was the defending champs who emerged victorious with a thumping 6-1 victory. But Brad Marchand isn’t shy to give credit where it’s due.

The former Bruins captain picked up a goal and two assists tonight at the Scotiabank Arena to help Florida advance to the next stage of the 2025 playoffs. With that, Paul Maurice’s boys ended the Leafs’ chances of winning the Stanley Cup once again. However, Brad Marchand seems to think that their divisional comrades shouldn’t be vilified for the slip-up.

The Fourth Period‘s David Pagnotta took to X to share Marchand’s reactions after today’s game. “I think if you look at the heat this team catches, it’s actually really unfortunate. You know, they’ve been working & building something really big here for a while,” Brad said during the post-match presser. He went on with a long face, “…they’re getting crucified, and I don’t think it’s justified,” noting that the loss didn’t take anything away from the Maple Leafs in his books.

Marchand’s reaction might have stemmed from looking at how the crowd reacted to Toronto’s loss at the Scotiabank Arena today. As Auston Matthews and his teammates sought to salute the fans for their backing, the crowd reciprocated with loud boos and even Maple Leafs jerseys and beer cups were thrown onto the ice. The scenes were difficult to digest as any hockey athlete, and it seems like Marchand, despite being from the Leafs’ opposing camp, wasn’t on board with such low potshots from the fans.

But it’s true that everyone knew beforehand that Game 7 between the Eastern Conference rivals would be high on emotions. Given the stakes, the athletes knew what was coming as well. “You’ve got to bring all of your emotion and intensity and focus to that game,” the Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad noted before the final match-up of the series. Naturally, with the Maple Leafs squandering the opportunity didn’t sit well with their fans. And yet, Brad Marchand felt there could have been other ways to show dissent toward the players.

But is the fans’ anger really that unexpected? After all, Toronto advanced to the second stage of the playoffs by trouncing the Sens in Round 1 (4-2). Against the Panthers in the postseason, the Maple Leafs left nothing to fate and picked up two wins in the first two matches. Things couldn’t look brighter for the team to reach the Conference finals after 23 years, but Florida quickly regrouped and won the next three matches in a row to pull ahead.

And yet, NHL experts continued to believe that the Maple Leafs would eliminate the Cats from the Stanley Cup race. Almost as a way to thank the pundits, Joseph Woll pulled off an incredible exhibition in front of the Leafs’ net to keep Brad Marchand & Co. at bay in Game 6 a tie the series. But all that went to vain tonight as the Panthers showed exactly why they’re the defending champs. But while all the fans’ exasperation might be justified, Marchand and his teammates have other things to worry about of their own.

Brad Marchand could make the most of his first year with the Cats

The Florida Panthers finished the regular season in 3rd place in the Atlantic Division. Not what you’d expect from the reigning Stanley Cup champs. But take into consideration that since February, the team’s star forward, Matthew Tkachuk, was kept off the ice because of the lower-body injury he picked up at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Thankfully, things looked brighter soon.

After 16 long years with the Boston Bruins, Brad Marchand was traded to the Panthers in a move that shocked the hockey community. But, while we imagine it was a tough thing to accept for the Canadian, he soon realized that he and the Panthers were more alike than he had previously imagined. And with Tkachuk also back in the roster before the playoffs, the squad looked as hot as it could.

And the talent immediately showed. The Miami team defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in the playoffs for the second straight year and secured a spot in Round 2. Moreover, while fans worried if Game 7 against the Leafs would be the final match of the postseason this year, Paul Maurice’s track record in Game 7s only proved to be an unstoppable force yet again. And Marchand? Well, he took his Game 7 tally against the Maple Leafs to 5-0 with a goal and two assists—a record for domination of a player against a single opponent. What’s more? also became the fifth-oldest player in NHL history to rack up at least three points in a Game 7. So, yeah, leaving the Bruins might have been a big heartbreak, but things are not too shabby in their division rivals camp either.

Now, the Cats will face off against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Conference Finals in their quest to retain the Cup. Who, among these two powerhouses, do you reckon will triumph?