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Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice is just not about to let one mistake outline Tomas Nosek. After the veteran ahead took a heartbreaking delay of recreation penalty in extra time, Maurice made it clear that the workforce is standing behind him.

With lower than two minutes remaining within the additional body of Recreation 1 of the Stanley Cup Last in opposition to the Edmonton Oilers, Nosek by accident flipped the puck over the glass from his personal zone. The infraction gave the Edmonton Oilers an influence play, and simply over a minute later, Leon Draisaitl buried the game-winner to finish Edmonton’s comeback in a 4-3 thriller.

It was a brutal approach to lose, however Maurice’s postgame message was one in all help and perspective. He reminded reporters that the Panthers have been right here earlier than.

“You remind him after the sport of being down two nothing to Toronto,” he stated, referencing Florida’s comeback win over the Maple Leafs within the Jap Convention semifinals. The Panthers misplaced the primary two video games of that collection earlier than rallying to win in seven.

Maurice went even additional to make sure that Nosek feels the backing of the locker room. “Make certain he does not eat alone tonight. That he is received lots of people sitting at his desk reminding him of how good he is been to us,” stated the veteran coach.

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The Panthers had began Recreation 1 sturdy. Sam Bennett scored twice and Brad Marchand added a power-play aim to offer Florida a 3-1 lead early within the second interval.

However the Oilers fought again with objectives from Viktor Arvidsson and Mattias Ekholm to even the rating. Draisaitl, who additionally scored simply 66 seconds into the sport, delivered the dagger in extra time. His aim was his third in sudden loss of life this postseason, tying an NHL report.

Regardless of the setback, the Panthers stay calm. Their journey to the Last has been stuffed with adversity, and so they have responded each time. Maurice’s message to his workforce was clear: This isn’t the time to assign blame; it’s the time to rally.

“It is going to be powerful when he will eat that for a day, however from his penalty kill to that line, actually modified the stream of that Toronto collection, we will remind him of that a complete bunch of occasions earlier than the puck drops,” Maurice stated.

Recreation 2 takes place Friday evening in Edmonton. Florida will look to bounce again and remind the hockey world why they’re one of the vital resilient groups within the postseason.