Panthers Player Under Fire for Suspendable Gesture Late in Game vs Canadiens

While the game was clearly over, and everyone thought defenseman Niko Mikkola was simply going to hand the puck to the official, the veteran Panthers blueliner had a brain cramp and decided to unleash a powerful slapshot, across the entire rink, at head height.

What was he thinking in that moment?

Watch the scene in question.

According to some fans who were there, David Savard may have even been hit by Mikkola's slapshot.

This isn't the first time a Panthers player has made a questionable move late in a game, but this one really stood out!

Interesting fact: the Canadiens will face the Florida Panthers again this Tuesday, live from the Bell Centre in Montreal.

This one's going to be intense!

Even at 3-2, it would've been a questionable decision, but at least he could've defended it by claiming he was "going all in."

But at 4-2? It's completely ridiculous, and I hope there are consequences.

Just imagine if a Canadiens player had been seriously injured because of that head-level slapshot..

There's one question that keeps circling in my mind, but it's almost too easy.. Would Mikkola have taken that shot if Arber Xhekaj had been on the ice?