Panthers HC Paul Maurice hopes to use heartbreaking Game 3 OT loss as motivation

Despite outplaying the New York Rangers for much of Game 3, the Florida Panthers fell 5-4 and now trail 2-1 in the Eastern Conference Final. 

Following a second consecutive heartbreaking loss in overtime, head coach Paul Maurice described how his team should approach a pivotal Game 4 at home on Tuesday. 

"A lot of times in the playoffs you want to make sure you keep your energy and cut off your losses. And you let it go," Maurice said via Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post. "Then there are times you want to keep it. And eat it. And let it burn for a while. And find a different kind of energy source."

Essentially, Maurice believes the best way to turn things around in the series is to have Game 3's loss stick with them for a bit. Meanwhile, he's already set the stage for how he wants them to respond.

"When you put up what we put up tonight and don't come up with the win, you should be a little growly," Maurice said. 

The team's reaction, while opposite Maurice's, was typical of the Panthers. Sam Reinhart, who had two goals in Sunday's loss, said they needed to recover mentally and physically ahead of Game 4. 

"We need to move on and refocus and see what we can do better," Reinhart said. 

The problem with Reinhart's statement is there's not much the Panthers can improve upon. After scoring only once in a 2-1 OT loss to the Rangers in Game 2, they overcame a two-goal deficit, scoring four times. They outshot New York 37-23 and controlled play for huge chunks of the game. 

There's some solace in having both losses come by only a goal, knowing that, in the extra session, it could've gone either way. But what the Panthers can't do is let frustration take over.