The Toronto Maple Leafs faced a tough blow after a Game 5 loss to the Florida Panthers, with Chris Pronger, Mark Messier, and P.K. Subban not holding back in their criticism. The Maple Leafs had initially taken a 2-0 lead in the series against the Panthers, but now find themselves trailing 3-2 leading into Game 6. With the pressure on, the question remains: will this be the end of the line for the Maple Leafs, or can they push through to force a Game 7 on Sunday?
Game 6 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers is set for 8 p.m. ET on TNT. The odds are not looking great for the Maple Leafs, as ESPN BET lists the Panthers at -800 to win the series, with the Maple Leafs at +500. Despite the odds stacked against them, the Maple Leafs have a history of fighting back when trailing a series 3-2, with a record of 6-18 in such situations. However, the Panthers have been strong when leading 3-2 in a series, with a 5-1 record historically.
In Game 5, the Panthers dominated with 14 different players registering points, a franchise record for the team. Sam Reinhart stood out with his fourth multipoint game of the playoffs, joining a select group of players to achieve this feat in the 2025 postseason. On the other hand, the Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews is currently facing a goal drought, with zero goals in his last five games. The goaltending situation for the Leafs is also uncertain, with Anthony Stolarz likely out for Game 6 and Joseph Woll expected to step in despite a tough Game 5 performance.
Not really sure why this matters, but it seems like the pressure is mounting for the Maple Leafs as they face a do-or-die situation in Game 6. The odds may be against them, but in hockey, anything can happen. Will the Maple Leafs be able to rally back and force a Game 7, or will the Panthers secure their spot in the next round? The stage is set for an intense matchup between these two teams, and hockey fans will be on the edge of their seats to see how it all plays out.
