The Florida Panthers’ losing streak is over. The Panthers finally bounced back against none other than Atlantic Division leaders, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Then again, beating top-tier competition is something the fans have come to expect from the defending champions. In fact, it was the five-match slide that left fans scratching their heads and Paul Bissonnette theorizing.
Yet, this wasn’t your regular theory. BizNasty literally pulled out the ‘tin foil hat’ during NHL on TNT after watching the Detroit Red Wings take a 2-goal lead over the 2024 Stanley Cup champs. It was so uncanny that Bissonnette revealed his tongue-in-cheek conspiracy theory, saying how Paul Maurice & Co. were setting up a trap for the unwitting Maple Leafs.
Yes! Paul Bissonnette explained that the Panthers were deliberately losing to set up their opening playoff meeting with Toronto, instead of the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, Paul Maurice and his team dismantled it barely a day after BizNasty floated it on air. “We needed to win a game,” said the Florida Panthers coach after falling to 3rd place in the Atlantic Division.
Bissonnette had argued that Maurice was making $49 million worth of talent sitting on the beach during the Red Wings game was part of the conspiracy. “This is an inside job. Gary Bettman needs to look into it,” the analyst urged the NHL commissioner. However, it turns out, that Coach Maurice was just as fed up with losing as Bissonnette wanted to see the Battle of Ontario (Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators) and the Battle of Florida (Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning) in the 1st round of the playoffs.
Yet Paul Maurice told reporters that he’s almost had his fill of tough games after beating Toronto. “We said we wanted to be in tight games, and I think we’ve gone about three months of them now. I’ve almost at my fill,” explained the 58-year-old. Defenseman Gustav Forsling also expressed similar feelings. “We don’t like losing, so obviously it’s a great feeling getting this win,” he told reports in the locker room. Yet Bissonnette wasn’t wrong about the Panthers trying to utilize Brad Marchand to the fullest.
The Florida Panthers coach had nothing but praise for former Bruin
“I like that… I like it almost from a personality point of view,” Paul Maurice explained while discussing Brad Marchand’s influence on the Panthers’ defense. Coach Maurice explained how the former Boston Bruins captain has brought his leadership skills to the roster, and it’s especially helping the young players.
Brad Marchand is all about the energy he brings to the ice. Taking and dishing out big hits is just another Tuesday for the Canadian. And the 38-year-old has instilled some of that energy in the Florida Panthers players as well. “Brad is so wired into the game… He talks all the time on the bench about the game, and he plays with such passion,” explained the ice hockey coach.
Marchand also made an immediate impact on the ice for the Bruins, scoring on his debut with the defending champions. The move has also benefited the player. While leading the Bruins after six seasons was not easy emotionally, the Four Nations Face-Off winner suddenly finds himself in a team contending for the Stanley Cup.
Brad Marchand also poured water on Paul Bissonnette’s tin foil hat about the Florida Panthers losing for a lack of trying. “We’ve lost some games lately, but if you look at the way we’re losing, we’re playing strong hockey,” explained the veteran NHLer. His statement also lines up with what Maurice said. At the end of the day, the defending champions just want to win, no matter who they face in the playoffs.
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