Florida fourth-line forward Tomas Nosek was the loneliest Panther at the end of Game 1.
Nosek watched Leon Draisaitl’s game-winning goal from the penalty box as Florida unsuccessfully tried to kill off the power play that stemmed from his delay-of-game penalty late in overtime.
But there was no finger-pointing from Nosek’s teammates or coaches after the game.
“That stuff happens in the game of hockey,” forward Brad Marchand said. “It’s a bad break. He’s been a great player for us all year, all playoffs. We’ve got his back, though.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice said the team would stick by Nosek and make sure he does not take the error too hard.
“You just remind him after the game of being down 0-2 to Toronto and that line came in and changed everything for us,” Maurice said. “We’re