John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
'It was cathartic': Paul Maurice discusses mid-game profanity-laced tirade
The Florida Panthers picked up a season-saving comeback win on Wednesday in Toronto.
Florida scored the game-tying goal with under a minute to go before claiming the bonus point during overtime, keeping the team’s playoff hopes very much alive.
During the game, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice absolutely lost it on his team during the second period.
It happened after a Maple Leafs goal that would ultimately be wiped off the scoreboard after a successful offside challenge by Florida.
During the official review, Maurice took the opportunity to let his players have it in a way that had not yet been seen, at least publicly, during his first season behind the Panthers bench.
“When I called (for the review) I knew it was offside,” Maurice said. “And then I thought it was a very nice opportunity to share feelings.”
The profanity-laced tirade was shown on both the Panthers and Leafs television broadcasts.
It turned out to be a bit of a turning point for Florida.
A Leafs-dominated second period began to even out, and while Toronto would take the lead early in the third period, the Panthers continued to show a resolve that had been lacking in recent games when falling behind.
After the game, Maurice provided some insight into his mid-game explosion.
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“It was not calculated,” he explained. “I was just honest. It was where I was at. If I could have yelled louder, if I could’ve been (expletive) more profane than I was, I would’ve. I'm not gifted enough. I needed to channel my father, who’s a gifted cursor. That was all I had. I was honest. That’s how I felt.”
Maurice was asked to elaborate on what he said during the diatribe, aside from the swear words.
“There was nothing beyond the expletive,” he said.
After the game, Panthers captain Sasha Barkov smiled when asked about the tongue lashing he and his teammates endured.
"You don't want to know," he said regarding Maurice's word choice. "It definitely got us going."
When a coach reacts that way toward his players during a game, it’s generally to induce some kind of positive change in their on-ice performance.
Maurice admitted that his scream-fest, while trying to change the fortune of his team, was also self-soothing.
“It was more of a cleanse for the coach,” he said. “I needed to. It was cathartic.”
Florida will now take their newfound good vibes to Montreal, where they’ll try to pick up another massive two points on Thursday night against the Canadiens.
Perhaps the Panthers will play in way that their coach can keep his cool on the bench.
If not, and with the season hanging in the balance, whatever works, right?
