They say “third time’s a charm” and it looks like the Florida Panthers really skated their way right back into the Stanley Cup Final, like it’s just another Wednesday night hobby. They pulled off a wild 5-3 dub over the Hurricanes in Game 5, and trust us, it was anything but chill. Carter Verhaeghe decided to be that guy, tipping in a slick pass from Barkov to break the 3-3 tie like a boss. Then Sam Bennett, who’s just casually leading the league in playoff goals right now, sealed the deal with an empty-netter that had Panthers fans already checking flight prices to the Final.

Tkachuk was in his element, Bobrovsky did his thing with 20 saves, and even though Aho came in hot for Carolina with two goals, the Florida Panthers turned the tide like pros. But wait; it didn’t end with the final buzzer. Oh no. As the boys in red and black were soaking in their moment, Panthers coach Paul Maurice decided to spice things up post-game. Yep, the man raised a few brows with some antics, and let’s just say there was a little tension in the air, and maybe a not-so-friendly interaction that’s now doing laps on hockey Twitter.

Spittin’ Chiclets hopped on X with a spicy clip right after the Florida Panthers’ big W, showing coaches Paul Maurice and Rod Brind’Amour locking up in a handshake that was anything but friendly. “Maurice and Rod have some words after the Florida advances to the Cup final.” The final buzzer had just rung, the Panthers were celebrating on the ice, and then came the classic handshake moment. But when Maurice strolled over to give Brind’Amour a handshake, things got a little heated real quick. Even the cameraman seemed caught off guard, with commentators low-key freaking out.

Elliot Friedan popped in with some insider context, dropping this nugget: “Maurice has said he doesn’t go into the handshake line: ‘it’s for the players.’ I might be proven wrong, but that’s what I think this is.” So, looks like Florida Panthers’ coach breaking his usual rule was a sign that something serious was brewing. And naturally, the fans had their own takes swirling around. One user threw shade, saying, “Rod knows he’s on the hot seat for not advancing past the ECF again.” Oof. Truth bomb right there.

Carolina’s been stuck at the conference finals for the third time in seven years without even giving the other team a scare. So yeah, the whole handshake scene split the fanbase like no other. Some folks are all in on Florida Panthers’ coach’s side, calling it fire and passion, while others are just shook at the tension. Either way, it’s clear this wasn’t just your usual ‘good luck next time’ moment. But this was just the beginning!

Florida Panthers and Hurricanes’ game sees an altercation between the coaches!

The internet had thoughts, and one fan didn’t hold back, chiming in with, “Rod can’t even look him in the eyes, poor guy. Get the guy some talent on that roster and see what he can really do.” And honestly? That ain’t just smoke. Rod Brind’Amour isn’t just some dude behind the bench; this guy’s got a resume heavier than a bag of pucks in double OT. The man’s a Canadian legend, drafted ninth overall back in ’88, laced up for the Blues, Flyers, and the Canes. Oh, and no big deal, he literally captained Carolina to their very first Stanley Cup win in 2006.

Fast forward to the bench days, and Rod slid into a development coach role in 2011 and hasn’t looked back since. By 2018, he had that head coach title locked down, and boom, playoff berth in his very first season, snapping a ten-year drought like it was nothing. By 2021, he became the first Canes coach to lead ‘em to three straight playoff runs. He even snagged the Jack Adams Award and made NHL history in 2024 as the fastest coach to reach 300 wins. So, when one fan dropped the mic with “People shitting on Rod don’t know shit about hockey,” they really weren’t lying.

Another user slid into the conversation with, “Maurice and Rod go way back, so I think they respect each other.” And let’s be real; these two have roots that run deep in hockey soil. Paul Maurice didn’t just coach Rod Brind’Amour for nine seasons; he basically helped shape his second act. When Rod hung up the skates after a bumpy ending (stripped of his captaincy and watching the playoffs from the couch), he wasn’t even sure he wanted to coach. But Maurice saw something else. As he once shared, “The career ends and hockey starts… he touched all parts of the game… he had earned the right to coach his kids if that’s what he wanted to do.” It wasn’t about pushing Rod into a role, but about letting him find that spark on his own terms.

And oh boy, did it catch fire. Rod joined Maurice’s staff in 2011, thinking he was just gonna dip his toes in. But watching Florida Panthers’ coach work was like watching a master painter with a playbook instead of a brush. “I’ll never be able to coach… he’s way up here in the way he thinks,” Rod had said, totally doubting himself. But fast-forward to now? Brind’Amour’s become one of the most respected minds behind the bench, with fire in his eyes and a hockey brain built for battle. Maurice even said, “He’s been great at it.” So when a fan cheekily joked, “Maybe he was asking Maurice for a job on his staff next year? 🤷‍♂️”, it hit differently.