Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice reached a historic milestone on Monday night, becoming just the third coach in NHL history to record 1,000 combined regular-season and playoff victories. The achievement came as the Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers 6-1 in Game 3 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena.
Maurice joins Scotty Bowman (1,467) and Joel Quenneville (1,090) as the only coaches in league history to hit the 1,000-win mark. The 58-year-old has been behind the bench for five NHL franchises over a career spanning more than 2,000 games, including stints with the Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, and now the Panthers.
A Career of Endurance and Results
In his career, Maurice now holds a regular-season record of 916-767-99, along with 84 postseason victories, bringing his total to 1,000 wins. With Florida alone, he has compiled a 141-87-18 regular-season record and 41-21 in the playoffs since joining the organization in 2022.
Maurice has now guided the Panthers to their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance, a franchise-best run during his tenure. Florida is now two wins away from potentially clinching back-to-back championships.
Panthers Take 2-1 Series Lead
Monday night’s victory was one of the Panthers’ most dominant playoff performances of the season. Florida jumped out to an early lead, scoring twice in the first period and maintaining control throughout the game. They added two more goals in each of the next two periods, while limiting the Oilers to just one goal in a high-stakes contest.
The win gives the Panthers a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, with Game 4 set to take place Wednesday night in Sunrise.
Panthers’ Path to the Final
Florida finished the 2024–25 regular season with a 47-31-4 record, good for third place in the Atlantic Division. In the playoffs, the Panthers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Carolina Hurricanes to reach the final.
Maurice’s 1,000th win adds a significant personal achievement to what has already been a successful campaign for Florida. It also solidifies his standing among the greatest coaches in NHL history.