As the playoffs approach, all NHL teams are looking to finish the final lap with virility. However, the Florida Panthers’ run-up to the playoffs hit a bump once again as the team was handed a 3-2 defeat by the Canadiens. With Nick Suzuki pulling off a magnificent performance for Montreal, Florida now rides on a two-match losing streak. But Paul Maurice isn’t one to lose heart just yet.

On Tuesday, the Bell Centre was the stage where incredible scenes unfolded during the clash between the two Atlantic Division heavyweights. While visitors maintained a 2-1 lead in the third period, Suzuki’s massive goal forced OT, in which the Canadiens star once again found the net to bring the victory for the hosts. However, the Florida Panthers coach thinks it’s just a minor setback that won’t define the squad’s season.

In a YouTube upload by FloridaHockeyNow from April 1, Coach Maurice could be heard talking about his feelings on the latest loss. During the post-match presser, an interviewer asked if Paul was “mad” about the results, and it didn’t take more than a second before the seasoned coach made his stance clear.

“Not even a little bit,” the Panthers’ boss said without beating around the bush. “It was nearly perfect. It’s a break that won’t happen again,” the Florida coach said, while also underscoring that letting the lead slip away wasn’t something the team had in its mind. However, being true to the Stanley Cup winner that he is, Maurice also made it clear that the only way now is forward.

“I won’t think about the way this game ended again,” said the Florida top man. That’s one way to keep the hopes high, wouldn’t you agree? However, while Maurice looks to the road ahead and tries to make it to the playoffs, he certainly does have several aces in his hands that can alter the Panthers’ 2024-25 season dramatically.

The Florida Panthers look to brighter days ahead

On March 28, the Boston Bruins made a shocking announcement. Ending a collaboration of almost two decades, the Bruins revealed that they would be trading long-time captain Brad Marchand to the Panthers in exchange for a conditional second-round pick in the 2027 draft, with the possibility of that becoming a first-round pick under certain conditions. While the Canadian’s health condition caused many fans to panic, Marchand soon proved why he’s one of the most revered hockey stars in the world right now.

“We’re hopeful to get him back toward the end of the regular season. That was the hope,” Paul said last month about Brad’s chances of showing up with the Florida squad. But he soon got a reason to smile as Brad helped the Panthers record a win over Utah in his debut in late March. Setting up Sam Bennett for an overtime goal, Brad seems to have bolstered Maurice’s hopes. But as far as injuries are concerned, the Panthers are not out of the woods yet.

Although the injured Matthew Tkachuk was seen skating on Monday, the coach thinks there is still time before he can clock in some “significant skates.” “There’s no conditioning component to it cuz he’s not there yet. So he’ll probably just get out on the ice and move some pucks around for a few more days, probably another week or so,” the coach said. During the 4 Nations Face-Off, Tkachuk suffered a groin injury, which has kept him off the ice.

Moreover, because the cap space left by Tkachuk has been put to use by the Panthers, Paul Maurice won’t be able to use Matthew until Game 1 of the playoffs. So, how do you think the defending champs are looking just weeks before the final upward push? Tell us your predictions about the Florida Panthers retaining the Stanley Cup in a comment!