Game 7 History
* This will be the 201st Game 7 in Stanley Cup Playoffs history and third of these playoffs.
* The two Game 7s so far this postseason both had historic feats: Mikko Rantanen scored the only single-period hat trick in Game 7 history and less than 24 hours later Cole Perfetti tallied the latest tying goal in Game 7 history. The achievements helped the Stars and Jets stage multi-goal, third-period comeback wins on consecutive days – there had been only three such rallies in the previous 198 all-time Game 7s before that.
* For the fourth straight year and 16th time in 17 postseasons, the second round will feature at least one Game 7.
* This is the 18th consecutive year with at least three Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There have been at least four Game 7s in each of the past three playoff years (4 in 2024, 4 in 2023, 6 in 2022), the longest stretch since an eight-year span from 2009 to 2016.
* Two of the past five Stanley Cup champions required a Game 7 win along the way: Florida in the Final last year and Tampa Bay in the 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinals.
Game 7 History – Toronto and Florida
* The Maple Leafs will contest their 28th all-time Game 7 (12-15 in 27 GP), which ranks second in NHL history behind the Bruins (31 GP) – whom they faced in four of their past six such contests. Toronto is 7-3 in Game 7s at home and will host a Game 7 for the third time in five years (2022 R1: 2-1 L vs. TBL & 2021 R1: 3-1 L vs. MTL).
* The Panthers will contest a Game 7 for the third straight year and fifth time overall (3-1 in 4 GP). Florida is 2-0 on the road in Game 7s, one of two clubs with a perfect record in that scenario (also WPG: 1-0).
* This will be the first head-to-head Game 7 between these clubs and the 128th unique Game 7 matchup in NHL history. Florida will be Toronto’s 13th different Game 7 adversary, while Toronto will be the fifth for Florida.
* Each of Florida’s past three Game 7s have been one-goal decisions (including two in OT), as have Toronto’s past two (including one in OT). The Panthers are 1-1 in Game 7 overtime, while the Maple Leafs are 2-3.
* Toronto is seeking its first Game 7 win (overall and at home) since the 2004 Conference Quarterfinals against Ottawa. Their run of six straight Game 7 defeats is tied with Ottawa (0-6) for the second longest stretch in NHL history behind Colorado (0-7); all three runs are active.
* Toronto has contested a winner-take-all game in 12 of its past 14 postseason appearances dating to 2001 (including Game 5 in the best-of-five Stanley Cup Qualifiers). The Maple Leafs are 3-9 in the 12 such games over that span but enter Sunday with a stretch of seven straight winner-take-all defeats which is tied for the second longest in NHL history (w/ COL), behind the Rangers (0-10 from 1937 to 1984).
* Florida can become the third franchise to win each of its first three road Game 7s (only PIT and MIN have done so) and eighth to win at least three straight road Game 7s at any point, after Pittsburgh (6-0; 1992-2017), Carolina (3-0; 2009-present), NY Rangers (3-0; 2013-2022), Los Angeles (3-0; 2014), Minnesota (3-0; 2003-2014), Montreal (3-0; 2004-2010) and Edmonton (3-0; 1991-1998).
* Florida will be the 25th team to play a Game 7 in three straight years and one of two clubs with an active run of that nature (also DAL: 4 in row from 2022 to 2025).
* The Panthers will be the fifth straight reigning champion to contest a Game 7 and will look to become the first from that group to win since the state rival Lightning claimed a 2-1 victory at Toronto in the 2022 First Round. Tampa Bay accounts for each of the past two Game 7 wins by reigning champions (also 2021 SCSF vs. NYI).
* Teams have split the 38 all-time Game 7s involving the reigning champions (19-19). The opposing team owns a 9-5 advantage when hosting the reigning champions for a Game 7, including a win in the last such contest – Dallas was home for its 2-1 victory in the 2024 First Round (vs. VGK) – and in six of the past eight such contests.
* The five times the reigning champions won a road Game 7: Tampa Bay in 2022 First Round (at TOR), Pittsburgh in 2017 Second Round and 1992 Division Semifinals (both at WSH), Edmonton in 1991 Division Semifinals (at CGY) and Toronto in 1964 Semifinals (at MTL).
* Toronto is 0-3 in Game 7s against the reigning Stanley Cup champions, following defeats in the 2022 First Round (2-1 L vs. TBL), 2001 Conference Semifinals (5-1 L at NJD) and 1976 Quarterfinals (7-3 L at PHI).
Players and Head Coaches in Game 7s
* Forty-one players between the two clubs have played in a Game 7 during the Stanley Cup Playoffs (TOR: 23; FLA: 18), for a total of 113 appearances in Game 7s (TOR: 64; FLA: 49). Florida’s roster includes 13 players who helped them win Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last year.
* Brad Marchand will appear in his 13th career Game 7 which will be the most among active players and make him the fifth player in League history with as many appearances, along with defenseman Scott Stevens (13), goaltender Patrick Roy (13) and former teammates Patrice Bergeron (14) and Zdeno Chara (14).
* Brad Marchand (7-5) can match the NHL record for career Game 7 wins by a player (skater or goaltender), a list that includes only one active member (Ryan McDonagh: 8-2).
* Brad Marchand (3-4—7) leads all current Panthers and Maple Leafs in career Game 7 goals (tied), assists and points, tied with Mikko Rantanen (5-2—7) for the second most among active players behind only Alex Ovechkin (4-4—8).
* Brad Marchand (1-2—3 in Game 7s vs. TOR; 4-0 record) can become the first player in NHL history to defeat the same opponent in at least five winner-take-all games. The only other player with four such wins against one opponent is Red Kelly, who went 4-0 against Montreal in Game 7s with Detroit (3-0) and Toronto (1-0).
* Max Domi (3-1—4 in 4 GP) and Max Pacioretty (3-0—3 in 4 GP) top Toronto’s roster for career Game 7 goals, while Domi and William Nylander (2-2—4 in 5 GP) share the team lead in Game 7 points. Auston Matthews (0-3—3 in 5 GP) tops the club in Game 7 assists.
* Both teams have six players who have scored a series-clinching goal, including four who have tallied a Game 7 winner: Maple Leafs teammates Max Pacioretty (2; 2021 R1 & 2014 R2) and Max Domi (2022 R1), as well as Panthersduo Carter Verhaeghe (2023 R1) and Sam Reinhart (2024 SCF).
* The Toronto players with a series-clinching goal: Max Pacioretty (4; 2025 R1, 2021 R1, 2014 R2 & 2014 R1), John Tavares (2; 2023 R1 & 2016 R1), Max Domi (2022 R1), Chris Tanev (2020 SCQ), Ryan Reaves (2018 CF) and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (2012 CQF). Tavares’ goal in 2016 was in double overtime against Florida.
* The Florida players with a series-clinching goal: Carter Verhaeghe (2; 2023 R1 & 2022 R1), Sam Bennett (2025 R1), Sam Reinhart (2024 SCF), Gustav Forsling (2024 R2), Aleksander Barkov (2024 R1) and Matthew Tkachuk (2023 CF).
* The two goaltenders in this series with Game 7 experience are both 2-0: Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky and Toronto’s Matt Murray (whose only appearance was in relief in Game 5). Eight goaltenders have won each of their first three career Game 7s, including one active netminder (Jonathan Quick: 4-0 from 2013 to 2014).
* Paul Maurice (5-0) is one of two head coaches in League history to win each of his first five career Game 7s, along with current Dallas bench boss Peter DeBoer (9-0). Maurice can become the fifth head coach with six Game 7 wins at any point, after DeBoer (9-0), Darryl Sutter (8-3), Pat Burns (6-3) and Scotty Bowman (6-3).
* Craig Berube (2-1 as head coach; 1-2 as player) has Game 7 experience on the ice and behind the bench.
* Find career Game 7 statistics for all current players and head coaches in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Interactive Information Guide (Toronto: page 23; Florida: page 30).
Game 7 Trends and Records.NHL.com Links
* The team that scores first is 150-50 (.750) in the 200 all-time Game 7s (0-2 in 2025).
* Home teams own a 118-82 (.590) advantage in the 200 all-time Game 7s (2-0 in 2025).
* 104 of the 200 all-time Game 7s (52.0%) have been decided by a one-goal margin, including six of the past seven (1 of 2 in 2025).
* 50 Game 7s have required overtime (25.0%). Home teams are 27-23 (.540) in those contests (1-0 in 2025).
* There have been 36 all-time shutouts in Game 7s, 24 by the home team and 12 by the road team.
* A team has overcome a deficit to win in 62 of the 200 all-time Game 7s (31.0%), including 15 multi-goal comeback wins. A team has won a Game 7 after trailing by any margin in the third period 27 times, including five multi-goal third-period comeback victories – that list includes both Game 7s from the 2025 First Round (WPG: 2025 R1; DAL: 2025 R1; SJS: 2019 R1; BOS: 2013 CQF; MTL: 1979 SF). The maximum deficit a winning team has faced at any point in a Game 7 is three goals (SJS: 2019 R1, BOS: 2013 CQF, PHI: 2010 CSF, EDM: 1991 DSF; WSH: 1988 DSF).
