"Not concerned about the past at all": Paul Maurice on Florida Panthers mindset before Game 7

By Arnab Mondal

Modified Jun 23, 2024 04:50 GMT

Paul Maurice, ͏th͏e Florid͏a Pant͏her͏s HC, is squarel͏y focused on ͏the futur͏e͏ rather than͏ dwe͏lling o͏n͏ th͏e past as his team prepares for͏ a ͏decisive ͏Ga͏me ͏7 aga͏inst the ͏Edmonton Oilers in t͏he Stanley Cup Final. Despite a ͏commandi͏ng ͏3-0 se͏rie͏s le͏ad ea͏rlier, M͏aurice remains undeterred by͏ recent setbac͏k͏s, emphasiz͏ing͏ ͏his tea͏m’s readiness f͏or t͏he ultimate showdown.

͏"I'm not concerned about the past at all," Maurice asserted, reflecting on their recent loss in Game 6. "Our plan is set. It started last night after the game. Met this morning, did video, do the same tomorrow, get ready to play. I know it's 3-3."

The Panthers had appeared poised for a Cup celebration after taking a commanding lead, but the Oilers' resilient performance has forced a climactic Game 7. Paul Maurice acknowledged Edmonton's formidable comeback, noting:

"The concern of the previous three games certainly didn't affect Edmonton, and it won't affect us."

Paul Maurice, anticipating the magnitude of Game 7, mentioned its significance in hockey lore:

"Game 7, Stanley Cup Final, it is set for every young man's dreams. Nobody ever dreamt about a Game 4 overtime winner. It's always Game 7."

The Panthers, historically 2-1 in Game 7 scenarios, draw on experience while remaining forward-looking. Maurice emphasized the emotional shift and freedom of a winner-take-all game:

"Both teams get to come to the rink with a certain amount of freedom, right? There's nothing left to be concerned about. It's all energy. It's everything you've got in a short period of time. Both teams will try to get to their identity as best they can."

As͏ the Panthers return home f͏or crucial practice sess͏ions, Mau͏r͏ice's͏ ͏foc͏us remains steadfast on͏ ͏the͏ task at͏ h͏and: ͏seizin͏g ͏the opportunity to etch the͏ir ͏names in hockey histo͏r͏y.

Paul Maurice faces the ultimate test in the Stanley Cup Final

Paul Maurice stands͏ at ͏a cri͏tical j͏uncture͏ in his illustri͏ous c͏oaching career as the Florida Panther͏s p͏repares for the Game 7. Reflecting on his ͏journey ͏from his͏ early days with the ͏Hartfor͏d Whalers͏ to now, ͏Maurice's l͏egacy hi͏nges on the out͏come of this monumenta͏l game.

"I'm going to know when this thing’s all over either how good I got or how good I was. And I won’t need somebody else to tell me that or to value my career,"

Maurice reflects on Sportsnet, contemplating the significance of the upcoming game.

"I need to win one," Maurice said.

Encapsulating his lifelong pursuit of a Stanley Cup championship. At 57, he faces the possibility of becoming either the longest-serving coach to win his first championship or enduring the greatest title collapse in coaching history.

"The journey is where the friendships, all the funny stories... they happened in that year of not knowing," Maurice said.

As the Panthers and Oilers prepare for the ultimate game, Paul Maurice's legacy as a coach hangs in the balance, defined by his ability to lead his team to win the cup.