The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the brink of rewriting NHL history, and the buzz is electric as they head into Game 7 against the Florida Panthers. For a team haunted by a 23-year playoff curse—last reaching the Eastern Conference Final in 2002—the Leafs are showing signs of breaking free. Auston Matthews turned heads in Game 6, shaking off a shaky stretch to deliver a performance that reminded everyone why he’s a superstar. Now, with the pressure at its peak, there’s more good news for Toronto fans.

The Toronto Maple Leafs started strong in Round 2, jumping to a 2-0 lead over the Panthers. But the momentum flipped with three straight losses, fueling whispers of that dreaded playoff curse. Matthews’ Game 6 heroics, however, flipped the narrative, and Woll’s shutout in Florida on Friday sent the series back to Toronto for a do-or-die showdown.

Now, Anthony Stolarz is back on the bench for Game 7, serving as the backup goaltender to Joseph Woll, as confirmed by a LeafsLatest tweet: “🚨 BREAKING: Anthony Stolarz will backup Joseph Woll tonight for game 7. ✅” Stolarz’s return adds another layer of hope. The 31-year-old netminder was a rock in Round 1 against the Ottawa Senators, boasting a 2.19 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. His season was cut short in Game 1 of this series after a forearm to the head from Panthers’ Sam Bennett—a play that sparked controversy but saw no penalty or suspension. Stolarz, visibly shaken, was believed to have suffered a concussion after vomiting on the bench, though the Toronto Maple Leafs never officially confirmed the injury.

With Stolarz back as backup, Joseph Woll remains the man in the spotlight. Over six games against the Panthers, including five starts, Woll has posted a 3.29 goals-against average and an .893 save percentage. His Game 6 shutout was a statement, proving he can handle the heat of a must-win game. For a fanbase starving for playoff success, Stolarz’s presence on the bench is a safety net, a reminder that the Leafs have depth in goal as they chase a milestone not seen in over two decades.

Matthew Knies’ return supercharges the lineup. The 22-year-old power forward, fresh off a breakout 2024-2025 season with 29 goals and 29 assists in 78 games, has been a postseason standout. With five goals and seven points in 12 playoff games, he’s tied for second on the team in scoring. Head coach Craig Berube confirmed Knies’ availability after the morning skate, erasing doubts about the young star’s status.

But while Knies and Stolarz returning should have given the Leafs hope, the reality on the ice told a different story. At the end of the second period, the Panthers were already leading 3-0, and by the time the final buzzer blew, things only got worse for Auston Matthews and co.

The wait continues for the Toronto Maple Leafs

The Florida Panthers are headed back to the Eastern Conference Final, leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs to face another gut-wrenching off-season after a crushing 6-1 loss in Game 7 on Sunday. The Panthers came out swinging, showcasing the desperation of a defending Stanley Cup champion, and Toronto simply couldn’t keep up.

Florida’s Eetu Luostarinen and Brad Marchand led the charge, each tallying a goal and two assists in a performance that felt like a masterclass in playoff hockey. Seth Jones chipped in with a goal and an assist, while Anton Lundell, Jonah Gadjovich, and Sam Reinhart also found the back of the net. Aleksander Barkov, ever the playmaker, added two assists, and Sergei Bobrovsky was a wall in the net, stopping 19 of 20 shots. The Panthers set the tone early, overwhelming Toronto with a staggering 21-0 shot attempt advantage just six minutes into the first period. It was a relentless pace the Leafs couldn’t match.

Toronto’s Joseph Woll did his best to keep his team in it, making 28 saves, including some highlight-reel stops early on. Max Domi scored the Leafs’ lone goal, but it was too little, too late. Despite a valiant 2-0 win in Game 6 to force the decider, Toronto couldn’t replicate that magic. William Nylander showed flashes of brilliance, dancing through Florida’s defense only to be stoned by Bobrovsky, while the fourth line’s Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz were denied on breakaways.

Now, the Toronto Maple Leafs face a summer of tough questions. With Mitch Marner and John Tavares heading toward free agency and team president Brendan Shanahan’s contract also expiring, the future of Toronto’s core—Auston Matthews, Marner, Tavares, and Nylander—is murky. The Leafs’ 0-7 Game 7 record in the salary cap era, including 0-6 with Marner and Matthews, looms large. Meanwhile, Florida marches on to face Carolina in Game 1 on Tuesday, chasing another shot at the Cup.