Paul Maurice Fires Back at Reporter Questioning Panthers' On-Ice Behavior

The Panthers have a well-earned reputation for playing with a physical edge that opposition fans have even called dirty and dangerous. It was something that coach Paul Maurice was directly asked about, and he answered in classic fashion.

I'll ask you two questions, and they might be personal so you don't have to answer them. Have you ever shotgunned a beer? Have you ever been to church, or something spiritual? OK. Would you shotgun a beer at church? That doesn't make you a hypocrite. There is a context and a place for all things.

I will tell you they are honest, these men are honest. That personality is all real. I hated Matthew Tkachuk, that's a little too strong, when I was in Winnipeg. Then you meet him, and you're like 'what a wonderful human being.'

Maurice then continued to build up his players and their personalities of charitable things they do away from the rink for the community, which understandably stops once they're on the ice against the opposition.

They are hard on the ice, they are. But that's driven by how they feel about each other. They don't want to let the other guy down. There's a caring about them. These guys are different. Barkov's personality is our room. Sam Bennett and his wife are raising money for cats and dogs. They are really nice people.

And then the puck drops. Sometimes you say a prayer, sometimes you shotgun a beer. That's like our team.'