Paul Maurice takes a dig at local media over reportage following Game 5 loss to Bruins 

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified May 15, 2024 16:54 GMT

In the aftermath of the Florida Panthers' Game 5 loss to the Boston Bruins, head coach Paul Maurice delivered a sharp critique aimed at the local media's coverage of the team. With a mix of sarcasm and wit, Maurice took a swipe at the intense scrutiny faced by players, particularly focusing on Brad Marchand's every move.

According to a post shared by Spittin' Chiclets on X, Maurice's comments during a press conference highlighted the absurdity of the attention placed on trivial details amidst the playoff intensity.

Referring to the upcoming media coverage, Maurice humorously predicted,

"It's gonna be an absolute barnburner in there. There'll be 18,000 cameras on the morning skate just to see how many sips of water bottle Brad Marchand takes. There’s going to be some high-end investigative journalism."

Maurice's statement also alluded to the impending scrutiny players face after a crucial loss, emphasizing the need for players to mentally prepare for the media onslaught.

"Guys go home & get a nap because you’ve got some shit to do in a couple days," Paul Maurice added.

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Paul Maurice explains fiery speech to Panthers amidst Bruins loss

In Game 5 of the Stanley Cup playoff series between the Florida Panthers and the Boston Bruins, the Panthers found themselves in need of a wake-up call early on.

The Bruins came out as the more active team, putting pressure on the Panthers who seemed somewhat listless. During a TV timeout in the second period, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice delivered a fiery message to his team, aiming to ignite a spark. Maurice's passionate outburst included profanity, which he believed was necessary to jolt his team into action.

Paul Maurice said (via TSN.com):

"I just thought they needed some profanity in their life. I brought some. I don't excel at a lot of things in life, but (expletive) me, am I good at that?"

Following Maurice's tirade, the Panthers responded almost immediately, scoring just 11 seconds later, but unfortunately, it was not enough to secure a win as they ultimately fell 2-1 to the Bruins.

Reflecting on the incident, Paul Maurice admitted he wasn't angry with his team but felt they needed a jolt. He acknowledged understanding their situation and his role in motivating them, stating,

"I felt that—I wasn't mad at them. I understood what they were going through."

However, despite the immediate response to Maurice's impassioned speech, the Panthers couldn't capitalize further.