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Watch: Panthers’ Jokinen scores two strange goals in win vs. Maple Leafs

Florida's Jussi Jokinen was feeling the luck on St. Patty’s Day.
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Watch: Panthers’ Jokinen scores two strange goals in win vs. Maple Leafs
Watch: Panthers’ Jokinen scores two strange goals in win vs. Maple Leafs

Florida Panthers forward Jussi Jokinen must have found a pot of gold in Toronto, because the luck of the Irish was evidently on his side Thursday night at the Air Canada Centre.

Jokinen opened the game’s scoring on a power play early in the second period. Jokinen’s centering pass, intended for teammate Vincent Trocheck, was deflected by Leafs right wing Ben Smith and went through the legs of goalie Jonathan Bernier .

About nine minutes later, the Kalajoki, Finland native extended the Panthers lead to 2–0 on an even more bizarre goal. After forcing a turnover by Leafs center Nazem Kadri in the corner, Jokinen’s attempted pass to Panthers rookie Logan Shaw was redirected by Toronto defenseman Connor Carrick at just the right angle to find its way over Bernier’s shoulder.

With Toronto’s net empty in the game’s final minutes, the luck may have rubbed off onto Jaromir Jagr. With the puck deep in the defensive zone, Panthers defenseman Brian Campbell threw a shot up ice that was tipped by the 44-year-old, finding its way into the vacant goal.

Some may call that luck, and some may call it just another day in the office for one of the greatest goal scorers of all time.

No matter what you call it, the Panthers will call it two points, as they walked away with a 4–1 win.

– Mark Garbino

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