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Paul Maurice has a fun moment Lou Brown after Panthers achieved a key destination in game 1

It was a good night for the Florida Panthers in Raleigh on Tuesday.

Florida opened the final of the Eastern Conference 2025 against the Carolina Hurricanes with an impressive 5-2 victory in the Lenovo Center and took the lead 1-0 in the best-of-Seven series.

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One of the most exciting games of the evening for Florida was the goal that AJ Greer scored with Niko Mikkola and Tomas Nosek.

A piece that Mikkola started in defensive end quickly turned into a rush, and after a few quick passes, Greer scored what had landed as a gaming goal.

But as Panther's head coach Paul Maurice explained after the game, the gate came up with a piece that he would rather not see, and the bank had a little fun due to its costs.

Now wear it with me because I hope that most (if not all) will receive this pop culture reference from you.

In the film “Major League” there is a part in which Outfield Willie Mays Hayes makes a chic catch, and when he comes back to the shelter, since he is congratulated by teammates, his manager Lou Brown gives him a high five and says: “Nice Catch Hayes, never again.

Yes, that was Maurice on the Panthers bank after the Greer goal.

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“I was strongly mocked on the bench for this goal. Hard,” said Maurice. “Mikkola in the line there is a wonderful inside game that I loathe. We will do everything we can to never see it again.”

Here is what happened.

When Mikkola stormed into the middle of the ice with Tomas Nosek, which had the puck through the neutral zone along the boards, Nosek, Mikkola decided to make a backhand pass when they crossed the blue line.

The pass crossed a few Hurricanes sticks before he landed perfectly on Mikkola's band.

NHL -targets (@Nhl_goal_bot) on x

NHL -targets (@Nhl_goal_bot) on x Goal Florida! Rated by AJ Greer with 16:27 in the second period. Support from Niko Mikkola and Tomas Nosek. Carolina: 1 Florida: 3 #flavscar #raiseup #timetohunt

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If the passport is distracted or intercepted, you suddenly have a big problem to return to your goalkeeper, with at least three Panthers players going into the wrong way.

“If you make these games, you have to make it,” said Nosek with a smile. “If you don't do it, you are in trouble, that's sure.”

Fortunately for Florida, that did not happen, and instead they achieved a beautiful rush goal with a pretty passport into the process.

It also allowed some slight moments on the bench, since the Panthers players were all aware of how much their trainer does not like to see passes.

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“It was a wonderful piece of Nosek,” said Maurice, before adding, “that they won't see again.”

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Caption: February 22, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; The head coach of Florida Panthers, Paul Maurice, reacts behind the bank in the second period in the PNC Arena. Mandatory loan: James Guillory-Mimagn pictures

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