Talking about the impact of coaches in the NHL, the Panthers’ coach, Paul Maurice, may be the best example to serve. Last year, he led the team to the Stanley Cup title in just his second season in charge. Having joined the team in June 2022, Maurice has had a massive impact on the Panthers, as can be seen from their recent performances. The defending Stanley Cup champions are just one win away from entering the Eastern Conference Final of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, dominating the Maple Leafs on the ice. After one of their most dominating wins, a crazy stat about Maurice came to light, which is solid proof of his impact on the team.
In the game yesterday against the Maple Leafs, the Panthers opened the scoring and were on the front foot right from the word go. Subsequently, they went on to win the encounter 6-1 to take a 3-2 lead in the series. Interestingly, with this win, the Panthers are now on a 25-game unbeaten run when they have led in any period under Maurice in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (brought forth by NHL host Jonny Lazarus on his X account). This sensational stat dates back to the previous season, where they began their streak of not losing games after taking the lead in any period during the playoff games.
Meanwhile, it was sweet revenge for the Panthers against a Canadian side that has been inconsistent in the series. Last year in the Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers four games to three, clinching the series with a 2–1 victory in Game 7 on June 24, 2024. On the other hand, the Maple Leafs have lost the momentum completely after winning the opening two games.
Did I just see that the Florida Panthers are 25-0 when leading after ANY period under Paul Maurice in the playoffs???
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) May 15, 2025
Despite the massive shift in momentum in this series, there has been one common factor right throughout the matchup between the Panthers and the Maple Leafs. Paul Maurice explained the importance of this factor while addressing his team’s domination in the game.
Paul Maurice highlights the importance of scoring first
Yesterday, the Panthers took the lead in the first period, with Aaron Ekblad scoring a fine goal. It was a well-deserved lead for the side from Florida, who dominated right from the opening whistle. During the post-game interview, the Panthers’ coach explained why taking the lead early was important, which set the tone for his team in Game 5.
Paul Maurice stated, “It felt important because that game was really fast and well executed by both teams up and down the ice early. There was a lot of really good execution in that for both teams. Getting the first one was important. It flatlined a little bit for us after that. Probably where the game doesn’t break is Sergei Bobrovsky. He faced two or three breakaways. I think he was the pivot point in the way the game went.”
With this win, the Panthers would be confident about progressing through to the semifinals of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. On the other hand, the Maple Leafs would have to reflect on the things that went wrong in the past three games before it becomes too late. The sixth game takes place tomorrow, which is a do-or-die encounter for the side from Canada.
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