The decisive Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs concluded Sunday night with a commanding Panthers victory, which was quickly followed by some playful trolling.
Florida triumphed over Toronto with a score of 6-1, securing their spot in the Eastern Conference Finals for the third consecutive year. Six different Panthers players contributed goals. Three goals were scored in the second period, and another three in the third, after the Maple Leafs had managed to get on the scoreboard earlier in the final frame.
After the game, the Florida team used social media to celebrate their win and playfully mock their opponents. One particular post featured a caption that jabbed at Toronto`s nickname, `The Six,` a reference to its area codes and the unification of its six boroughs, by highlighting the 6-1 final score. This was accompanied by a graphic showing a panther licking maple syrup dripping from a bottle adorned with the Leafs logo.
Panthers forward Brad Marchand was a key contributor to the victory, registering two assists and adding an empty-net goal to seal the win. Notably, Marchand now boasts an impressive 5-0 record against Toronto in Game 7s, making him the first player in NHL history to eliminate the same franchise in at least five winner-take-all playoff games.
Florida also took aim at Maple Leafs superfan Justin Bieber, who was present at the game on Sunday, in a post acknowledging Marchand`s standout performance. Following Toronto`s Game 6 victory on Friday, Bieber had posted a photo of Leafs player Auston Matthews on Instagram with the caption: “My captain Gets It Done game 7.”
The Panthers cleverly parodied Bieber`s post by replacing “my captain” with Marchand`s name in their own social media celebration.
Looking ahead, the Florida Panthers are set to compete against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final for a chance to advance to the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. Game 1 of that series is scheduled for Tuesday.
