It wasn't just that the Toronto Maple Leafs lost in Game 7 to the Florida Panthers on Sunday, it was how they lost. The Leafs got blown out 6-1, getting booed off the ice by the fans that stuck around at Scotiabank Arena.
Thousands left before the 10:00 mark of the third period, while others tossed Leafs jerseys on the ice in disgust.
It was embarrassing, even by Maple Leafs playoff standards. You can understand why Mitch Marner lost his cool during the second period, after the Leafs gave up three goals in less than seven minutes.
The star winger was understandably angry and was spotted by television cameras laying into his teammates. "Wake up," Marner seemed to be saying, mixed in with a swear word or two, as he looked towards the Leafs' bench.
Mitch Marner is HEATED after the Panthers 3 unanswered goals 😳 pic.twitter.com/F3HnjKKc7a
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 19, 2025
This is just the latest failure by the Leafs in a big game, of which they've had many during the Core Four era. It's the sixth time in eight seasons the Leafs have lost a Game 7.
Marner, along with Auston Matthews and William Nylander, have been around for all the failures. John Tavares has been a member of the team for five of them. Marner, Matthews, Nylander and Tavares were all held off the score sheet on Sunday.
Many believe it'll be the last game the Core Four plays together. This could well be the last game in a Leafs uniform for Marner and Tavares, who are both pending unrestricted free agents.
Sportsnet
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