Marchand improves to 5-0 in Game 7s against Leafs, makes NHL history

Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment is the principal owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but Brad Marchand should at least be considered a minority shareholder at this point. He simply owns the Leafs.

With the Florida Panthers' series-clinching victory Sunday, Marchand became the first player in NHL history to win five winner-take-all games against one franchise. The first four came as a member of the Boston Bruins.

Marchand recorded a goal and two assists in Sunday's Game 7, giving him eight points in the series. His line with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen was dominant, outscoring Toronto 6-2 and controlling 64.15% of the expected goals at five-on-five across the seven games, per Natural Stat Trick.

The 37-year-old now has nine goals and 24 assists in 35 career playoff games against the Maple Leafs.

"We just had that beLEAF," Marchand told TNT postgame, taking a jab at Toronto's fan base.

Marchand, though, was complimentary of the Maple Leafs.

"It was a hell of a series. I said it before, I wasn't joking around, they were a different team this year," he added. "They were competing at a much different level. It was a very tough series."

Marchand also expressed sympathy toward Leafs players, who face the pressure of playing in Toronto.

"You see the fans, they just beat the pressure into this team," Marchand added. "It's gotta be tough on those guys to walk to the rink everyday and not feel that."

The Panthers acquired Marchand at the deadline from the division rival Boston Bruins. The conditional draft pick they surrendered to get him now becomes a first-rounder with Florida advancing to the Eastern Conference Final and Marchand playing in at least 50% of the games.