Coach Paul Maurice Cautious Heading Into Game 4 Despite Panthers’ Playoff Comeback

Perhaps what started as a shaky night soon turned into one of the strongest comebacks for the Florida Panthers. While it had been Brad Marchand’s overtime goal that sealed the 5–4 win, let’s not forget the efforts by the young goalie. Because Sergei Bobrovsky, who stood tall to swat away all 27 shots, left the Toronto Maple Leafs with their night ending in agony. The pressure was high; after all, what felt like a brutal back-to-back loss against the Maple Leafs turned into a glory when Paul Maurice’s squad thrived in the recent one! However—despite the win—the head coach still isn’t exactly leaning back with a sigh of relief. Why? Perhaps he senses more concerns with the game 4 approaching now.

Panthers insider Jameson Olive took it on X and fans and analysts couldn’t stop but get into solving what Maurice’s words reflected. “I don’t think there’s a pressure advantage for either team in Game 4,” the head coach stated in a post-match interview. Well, let’s say he didn’t just state but raised eyebrows over the Panthers’ mental edge before heading into Game 4! Is Maurice just trying to protect his players from what he sees in the Leafs—the pressure that is still high while the team comes closer to Game 4?

Maurice: "I don't think there's a pressure advantage for either team in Game 4."

On the idea of momentum: "I'm not a big believer in momentum, or we would've lost [Game 3] 60-0 based on the first minute."

— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) May 10, 2025

Maybe. “We had a good game — a better second half of the game because we didn’t start the way we would have liked,” even Marchand stated clearly while speaking to the NHL. Hence, it could be true that Paul Maurice sees what is possibly coming next for his team. While both teams have been through their share of pressure, it doesn’t mean that Toronto will let it be the same the next time. To say that the head coach’s caution is deeply rooted in respect for how quickly momentum can flip in a playoff series.

But when asked about the momentum, Maurice’s reply didn’t reflect any particular hype. “I’m not a big believer in momentum, or we would’ve lost [Game 3] 60–0 based on the first minute,” he put it straight while referencing the Panthers’ flat-footed start that saw them on the back foot early. However, despite the Maple Leafs dominating puck possession in the opening frame, had it not been for Bobrovsky to make those crucial saves, the scoreline could’ve looked ugly. Nevertheless, what follows next concerns the head coach a bit but could be a turning point for its players, because the Panthers often take their coach’s advice seriously just to demonstrate their prowess on ice!

Paul Maurice expressed concerns before Game 3 too!

After dropping their first two games to Toronto, the Panthers pulled off a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory. All thanks to the powerful OT goal by Marchand and the one who actually stole the spotlight–Sergei Bobrovsky! If he hadn’t made those crucial saves, the team would have fumbled once again. To say that Bobrovsky had been the star of the show would be an understatement, because even Carter Verhaeghe couldn’t stop praising the young goalie and saying, “We trust Bob,” he said. But what followed right before this achievement had a lot to do with being influenced by the head coach’s words. Perhaps, once more in a good way.

Because Paul Maurice voiced some cautious remarks about the goalie’s form after the Game 2 win as well. While Maurice didn’t outright criticize him, he did note concerns about the goals conceded and the quality of chances faced. “Didn’t love his first game,” Maurice had said but we know what followed later made Bobrovsky actually answer loud and clear in Game 3, right? So is it that Maurice stays cautious heading into Game 4, and there is nothing to be concerned about? Because the team often proves that they can rise to the occasion when it matters most. And they do perfectly, don’t they?

However, with momentum on the Panthers’ side and a strong core of experienced players, Florida will not just chase a few goals this time because they have the potential to do more than that! And now with Game 4 bringing in some new challenges, it isn’t that the Panthers need to fend off anything but just be alert to make it more interesting while marking their dominance. Well, are you excited for Game 4? Let us know!

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