What’s it like to play in Game 7? Panthers, Maple Leafs talk ‘biggest game in hockey’
It’s the two greatest words in playoff hockey: Game 7. Win or go home. Do or die. Pick your favorite cliche here.
The Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs will experience that moment on Sunday at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, with the winner advancing to the Eastern Conference final against the Carolina Hurricanes and the loser seeing its season come to an end.
“Game 7 is always a special one,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said. “It’s the biggest game in hockey. We’re excited. You have to be excited for this one.”
But what is it about Game 7, about the rush and euphoria of the moment that comes with it?
Here is what players from both sides had to say ahead of the looming matchup.
▪ Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk: “I would say I was more more nervous for my first one than the last couple. At that point, you’ve done all the work to get there, so just go out and play. It’s almost like you’re playing more free at that point, which is more fun, but I always notice the guys that have success in Game 7s are the guys that aren’t afraid or scared to make a play and they want to make the difference whether or not it happens. You see some of the best players in these games. They want to make that difference.”
▪ Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad: “At the end of the day, we grow up dreaming of Game 7s. No bigger than the Game 7 where Sam [Reinhart] scored that goal [in the Stanley Cup Final]. Yes, we feel the pressure obviously, but the motivation and the pride that you have in coming to the rink excited to play is second to none. It’s a full body-tingling experience when you get onto the ice for the first time and, home or away, the crowd’s going absolutely bananas and you feed off of that energy.”
▪ Panthers forward Brad Marchand: “Game 7s, these are the ones you live for. You get excited about it. They’re the ones you don’t really worry about the pressure. You just worry about enjoying it and having fun. Whether you win or lose, they’re incredible moments, and you want to give yourself the best opportunity and to do that, you have to be in the moment all night and just be excited about it.”
▪ Maple Leafs forward John Tavares: “It never gets old. I think playing at this level, whether it’s stepping on the ice in preseason or game seven like tonight, it’s got the same excitement and feeling as you did as a kid wanting to play in the NHL and be playing in these types of games and these types of moments. It’s a lot of fun. It’s really special. You try to enjoy every part of it, but obviously also just trying to stay really in the moment and focusing on the things that you’ve got to do throughout the day to get ready to play.”
▪ Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly: “It’s fun. I mean, the nerves are there, but that’s what you want. That’s what you train for during the off season. That’s what you tell yourself you’re training for, at least: The opportunity to play in the playoffs and play in important games. That’s here now.”
This story was originally published May 18, 2025 at 1:03 PM.
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