“We’re not on Oprah Winfrey”: Paul Maurice Keeps His Emotions in Check
Last night, the Florida Panthers secured a 2-0 lead over the Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Panthers appear well-equipped to clinch the Stanley Cup, benefiting from a healthier roster compared to the Oilers, who are dealing with injuries to key players like Darnell Nurse, Evander Kane, Corey Perry, and Leon Draisaitl. The playoff atmosphere suits the Panthers’ playing style perfectly.
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Florida has developed a reputation for being tough opponents, especially since their trade two years ago that brought Matthew Tkachuk from Alberta in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau. This shift has paid off, making them a formidable team on the ice.
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The effectiveness of their defense was evident last night, as only six of the Oilers’ shots came from their forwards:
- Zach Hyman: one shot
- Leon Draisaitl: two shots
- Connor McDavid: three shots
Despite 13 shots from the Oilers’ defensemen, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Panthers, who managed 29 shots on goal in Game 2. With Sergei Bobrovsky performing at his best against Stuart Skinner, the Panthers had the upper hand.
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A critical moment in the game was Leon Draisaitl’s hit on Aleksander Barkov in the third period, which resulted in a minor penalty. The hit was dangerous, and the Panthers were clearly concerned about their captain’s condition.
After the game, when asked about his feelings on the incident, Paul Maurice responded pragmatically, avoiding emotional commentary:
“This isn’t the Oprah Winfrey show. My feelings don’t matter.” – Paul Maurice
The question arose because Maurice seemed restrained in his response, likely trying to avoid escalating tensions. His approach suggests he believes his team is in control and there’s no need to fuel the controversy publicly.
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However, it’s expected that Panthers management will review the hit to see if further action against Draisaitl is warranted, given the potential impact on the series, especially with Wayne Gretzky recently comparing Barkov to Bryan Trottier.
https://x.com/MaximeTruman/status/1800325294181715999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1800325294181715999%7Ctwgr%5E70de1cbbbe312475cdd869a161e42e0c3f4e1e13%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdose.ca%2F2024%2F06%2F11%2Fwere-not-on-oprah-winfrey-paul-maurice-wont-open-up%2F
Game 3 of the final is set for Thursday night in Edmonton. Both teams face significant travel before then. The Oilers will look to leverage their home-ice advantage to mount a comeback.
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