The Florida Panthers are not just chasing another Stanley Cup but building a dynasty right before our eyes. Their seasoned head coach, Paul Maurice, is at the heart of this powerful run, having just added a significant milestone to his already impressive career.
In Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Panthers crushed the Edmonton Oilers 6-1 in a game that quickly went from competitive to chaotic. But while the scoreboard told one story, the real headline came after the final buzzer.
NHL Fans React as Paul Maurice Reaches 1,000 Wins
Maurice earned his 1,000th career win as an NHL head coach, combining both regular-season and playoff victories. That puts him in incredibly elite company; only Scotty Bowman (1,467) and Joel Quenneville (1,090) have done it before him.
Maurice recently skipped the traditional post-series handshake with the Carolina Hurricanes after the Eastern Conference final and even asked Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour to do the same. But it wasn’t out of disrespect.
Maurice believes the handshake line is one of hockey’s great traditions. However, he feels it should be reserved for the players who fight, block shots, take hits, and give everything on the ice. Coaches, he says, aren’t part of that physical battle and shouldn’t take away from the players’ moment.
Maurice has shared this view throughout the playoffs and stuck to it again after Florida’s win over Carolina, even convincing Brind’Amour to sit it out. His stance has sparked debate among fans; some agree, others feel coaches should set an example.
Meanwhile, many fans have taken a humorous spin on the situation, joking about the skipped handshake and turning it into a trending topic, and wasted no time reacting online. As expected, the jokes and quips came rolling in. One fan wrote, “That’s a lot of handshakes.”
Another chimed in, “Don’t shake his hand though,” drawing upon Maurice’s no-handshake argument.
With a win tonight, Paul Maurice has reached a combined 1,000 career wins in both the regular season and the #StanleyCup Playoffs as a head coach! 🤩
Catch Game 4 of the #StanleyCup Final between the @EdmontonOilers and @FlaPanthers Thursday at 8p ET on @NHL_On_TNT,… pic.twitter.com/FfljjuWtJB
— NHL (@NHL) June 10, 2025
A third fan added, “Panthers looking so good that Paul Maurice just asked the Oilers coach to stay out of the handshake line.” Just like Maurice did with the Hurricanes coach, he asked Knoblauch to stay out of the handshake line, continuing his belief that the tradition should be reserved for players who battle it on the ice.
Maurice, now 58, has had a long journey in the NHL. He’s in his third season coaching the Panthers, but his coaching career spans 27 seasons. Despite not having a standout playing career, he’s carved out a legacy behind the bench, known for his strategic mind, calm demeanor, and ability to get the best out of his players.
He’s long been one of the league’s best coaches for many fans. One even said, “Best coach in the league IMO, and I was saying that when he was with the Leafs 10 years ago and the Jets.”
The win wasn’t without drama. Minutes into the third period, the Panthers jumped to a lead, and tempers flared. The game became more of a brawl than a contest, resulting in several ejections. Still, the Panthers stayed focused and came out with a commanding victory, giving them a 2-1 lead in the Finals.
The stage is set for Game 4 on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, airing on TNT, truTV, and Max. With the Panthers holding the momentum and Maurice standing tall after a historic win, fans are eager to see if they can stretch the lead to 3-1 and maybe give Maurice win No. 1,001. One thing’s for sure: the hockey world will be watching, and the handshake jokes probably aren’t stopping anytime soon.
