“We’re going to war”: Max Pacioretty’s battle cry sets the stage for Toronto Maple Leafs-Florida Panthers Game 7 showdown

Veteran winger Max Pacioretty ignited the fan base of the Toronto Maple Leafs by declaring, “We’re going to war,” after Friday night’s 2-0 victory over the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena kept Toronto’s Stanley Cup hopes alive. The Leafs tied the second-round series on the strength of Auston Matthews' first goal in the series and a 22-save shutout by rookie goalie Joseph Woll, sending the series to a decisive Game 7 that will take place Sunday, May 18, at Scotiabank Arena. When the Toronto Maple Leafs picked up Max Pacioretty at the trade deadline, the front office wanted his big-game scoring ability. On Friday, he scored his third postseason goal and eighth career elimination-game goal to complete the Leafs' shutout. Earlier, Auston Matthews ended a five-game slump by sliding a Mitch Marner pass through Sergei Bobrovsky's pads, releasing a wave of relief along the Toronto bench. “I mean, it's such a huge, huge goal,” Pacioretty said about Matthews' goal. “You know, that's a situation where no one wants to make a mistake. You could feel the tension on both sides there at that point in the game. And then just an unbelievable shot from an unbelievable player.” The captain's goal held up as the game-winner, and Pacioretty's insurance goal quieted the Sunrise crowd for good. Also read: Auston Matthews injury update: Toronto Maple Leafs captain beats eye scare to score clinching third-period goal in Game 6 against Florida Panthers | NHL NewsA win by the Leafs would send Toronto to its first Eastern Conference Final since 2002 and banish decades of Game 7 agony. A win for the Panthers would provide Florida with its third consecutive conference final appearance and maintain its quest for a second consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance. With Game 7 of the series between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs set tobe played at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET., fans will be intensely watching how this game will decide the fates of the two teams this season.