Auston Matthews snapped his playoff goal drought with a third-period game-winner in the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ Game 6 win over the Florida Panthers.
Shortly afterwards, one of his most high-profile supporters was quick to react online to Matthews’ game-winning goal and Toronto’s living to see another day.
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Canadian pop star and lifelong Leafs fan Justin Bieber shared a celebratory Instagram post Friday night, featuring a photo of Matthews celebrating on the ice along with an unfiltered caption.
“My captain Gets It Done. Game 7 (expletive).”
Matthews’ goal broke a 0-0 tie and helped the Maple Leafs beat the Panthers 2-0 to force a Game 7.
Recording artist Justin Bieber’s post on Instagram after the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Florida Panthers in Game 6.Justin Bieber’s Instagram account (@justinbieber)
It was Matthews’ first goal of the series and came just minutes after he left the game following a high stick to the face from Aleksander Barkov that impaired his vision.
“It felt great,” Matthews said of his drought-breaking goal. “I’ve had some good opportunities all series, and so I’m going to keep shooting and keep believing that the next one’s going in.
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“So, that one felt great.”
The 27-year-old forward was also blunt in his description of Toronto’s performance, praising the team’s effort on Friday.
“Gutsy. Just a gutsy, gutsy win all around,” Matthews said. “I thought we just battled hard all three periods.”
Max Pacioretty scored the insurance goal late in the third to make it 2-0, while Joseph Woll stopped all 22 shots for his first career playoff shutout, which couldn’t have come at a better time for Toronto.
Game 7 between the Maple Leafs and Panthers is set for Sunday at Scotiabank Arena in Canada at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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