The Stanley Cup Playoffs have entered an exciting juncture where there is hardly any scope for errors for the teams. One such encounter is between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers. Although the side from Canada made a bright start, winning the first two games, the Panthers made a thrilling comeback to emerge victorious in the next three games to leave the series at 3-2 in their favor. With this, they are just a solitary win away from entering the next round. However, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman still believes that the Maple Leafs are in with a chance in the series.

With each game, the Panthers have gotten better, while the Maple Leafs have gone in the opposite direction. As a result, many felt that the tie was almost over even before Game 6 of the series, which is set to take place later today. Ahead of this crucial encounter, Friedman shared an example that reasons out why it could be anybody’s game, despite the momentum being with the Panthers.

During the recent edition of the 32 Thoughts podcast, he said, “There’s a chance, yes so I remember this brought back memories Kyle before you were an apple or a gleam in your parents’ eyes, April 10th, 1988 I was a high school student at York Mills Collegiate in Toronto working a part-time job. I believe at the time I was working at Kohl’s bookstore and I used some of my savings to buy a ticket in the last row of the grays at Maple Leaf Gardens to see the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the score that night [was] 8-0 Detroit… We are not going down like that on Friday in game six; we are not doing that.”

Friedman was referring to the 1988 Division semifinals between the Maple Leafs and the Red Wings, which the latter won 4-2. In Game 4 of that series, the Maple Leafs were blanked 8-0, which has been one of their worst defeats in the NHL. However, Friedman believes that such bad days are long gone and the Toronto Maple Leafs can emerge stronger from the setbacks.

In order for the Maple Leafs to make a comeback, the star players have to step up their game. Ahead of Game 6, NHL analyst JD Bunkis called out two Maple Leafs stars for their poor show of late.

Toronto Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews face the heat

Soon after the Maple Leafs lost Game 5, the likes of Matthews and Marner apologized to the fans for not living up to their expectations. Even before that game ended, some Maple Leafs fans were spotted leaving the arena, which was a clear sign of their frustration. However, Bunkis called the two stars out for not stepping up when it mattered the most.

He revealed, “I just can’t be convinced these guys care the way other people do. After the game, they asked Marner about the no shots, and he said, he’s just trying to get shots through sticks; that’s my game. That’s your game, brother? Your game is no shots in two games against the Florida Panthers? I just don’t think you two care. I’m sorry, I’m done pretending. Do you not care? How can you not be pissed off about this? Just look angry.”

Time is running out for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and they will have to step up as a team if they are to find their lost mojo back. It’ll be interesting to see if the side from Toronto can make a strong comeback in the game later today.