The Florida Panthers secured a convincing victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series on Sunday night, celebrating the win with some creative social media jabs.
Florida`s decisive 6-1 triumph propelled them into their third consecutive Eastern Conference finals appearance. Six different Panthers players found the net throughout the game. Three goals were scored in the second period, followed by three more in the third period, after the Maple Leafs managed to score their single goal earlier in the final frame.
Post-game, the Panthers took to social media to playfully mock their opponents. One particular post referenced Toronto`s nickname `The Six` (a nod to its area codes and unified boroughs) and featured an image depicting a panther consuming maple syrup from a glass bottle adorned with the Leafs logo.
Panthers forward Brad Marchand played a significant role in the victory, contributing two assists and sealing the win with an empty-net goal. Notably, Marchand holds a perfect 5-0 record against Toronto in Game 7 situations, making him the first player in NHL history to defeat a single franchise in at least five winner-take-all contests, according to research.
Florida also aimed a specific taunt at celebrity Maple Leafs fan Justin Bieber, who was in attendance at the game on Sunday, highlighting Marchand`s standout performance. After the Leafs secured a win in Game 6 on Friday, Bieber had posted a picture of Toronto`s star player Auston Matthews on Instagram with the caption: `My captain Gets It Done game 7.`
The Panthers` social media response cleverly mimicked Bieber`s post but substituted Marchand`s name in place of “my captain.”
Florida is now set to face the Carolina Hurricanes with a berth in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on the line. Game 1 of that series is scheduled for Tuesday.
