FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Ordinarily at playoff time, this would be bulletin-board material: A coach in the NHL referred to the Florida Panthers as weird.
Except this time, nobody minded. Because the guy who said it was Panthers coach Paul Maurice.
Weird, goofy and unique are just some of the terms Maurice uses to describe his team, and he’s saying those words in the most endearing way possible. To him, they’re all badges of honor, part of the reasons why the Panthers finished with 110 points, won the Atlantic Division for the second time in three years and have a full head of steam going into a first-round playoff series with the rival Tampa Bay Lightning.
“There’s a lot of guys that have been here for a long time, we’ve been together and everyone’s great,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said. “Everyone’s serious when we go on the ice and when we have to work. That’s the best part of it. And, off the ice, obviously we want to be as relaxed as possible, joke around, that kind of stuff. We love spending time together.”
Ruud advances to Barcelona semis after beating Arnaldi in straight sets
Frank Nazar scores on first shot in NHL debut with Chicago Blackhawks
Ningxia delicacies tempt int'l diners' palates
Shaolin Kung Fu competition enthralls martial arts enthusiasts in Oceania
Lazio up to sixth in Serie A after win at Genoa
Shaolin Kung Fu competition enthralls martial arts enthusiasts in Oceania
Without Curry, Green, the Warriors beat the Jazz 123
Cultural industry can better tell China story
Emma Roberts keeps it casual in a hoodie and Dragon Ball Z t
Steve Clifford wins final game as Charlotte coach, Hornets beat playoff
Claire Danes carries umbrella for bundled
Feature: See Nanjing exhibition kicks off in Boston highlighting Chinese cultural elements