The Florida Panthers secured a convincing victory in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday night, and they wasted no time celebrating with some playful jabs.
Florida defeated Toronto with a dominant 6-1 scoreline, advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the third consecutive year. Six different Panthers players contributed goals to the win. Three goals came in the second period, followed by another three in the third, after the Maple Leafs managed to score their lone goal earlier in the final frame.
Following the game, the Panthers took to social media to playfully taunt their defeated opponent. One notable post poked fun at Toronto`s nickname, `The Six`, derived from its area codes (like 416 and 647) and the six boroughs that form the modern city. This humorous message was paired with a graphic illustration featuring a panther licking maple syrup from a bottle adorned with the Leafs logo.
Panthers center Brad Marchand played a significant role in the victory, contributing two assists and sealing the win with an empty-net goal. Marchand holds a remarkable 5-0 record against Toronto in Game 7s. According to ESPN Research, this makes him the first player in NHL history to eliminate the same franchise in at least five winner-take-all games.
Florida also acknowledged Marchand`s stellar performance with a specific jab directed at celebrity Maple Leafs fan Justin Bieber, who was in attendance on Sunday. After the Leafs won Game 6 on Friday, Bieber had posted on Instagram celebrating Toronto`s Auston Matthews, using the caption: `My captain Gets It Done game 7.`
The Panthers` social media team cleverly repurposed Bieber`s post, replacing the phrase `my captain` with Brad Marchand`s name in their own version to highlight his key role in the Game 7 victory.
Next, Florida will face the Carolina Hurricanes for a spot in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. Game 1 of that series is scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
Rupert Hartwell 
Benedict Kingsley