The Florida Panthers will begin a crucial two-game road trip Tuesday night, including one with special meaning for their coach.
The trip begins in Winnipeg, with a game against the NHL-leading Jets, before the Panthers take on the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.
While both matchups carry importance for Florida as they continue to jockey for first place in the Atlantic Division with the Toronto Maple Leafs, it’s the return to Winnipeg that will add a personal touch for coach Paul Maurice.
Maurice, of course, is no stranger to Winnipeg. He coached the Jets for parts of nine seasons, building deep ties with both the players and the passionate fan base. He stepped down in 2021, having led the team to several playoff appearances, but with a belief that the organization needed a new voice to take it to the next step.
His first return to Winnipeg came in November 2022, with the Panthers. But this time around, there’s an added layer of emotion.
After finally capturing his first Stanley Cup with Florida in June, Maurice has a unique perspective on his time in Winnipeg and his hopes for the Jets securing their first NHL title.
“If I could have one thing more,” Maurice said emotionally as his team celebrated the biggest victory of their franchise in June, “it would be for the Winnipeg Jets to win the next Stanley Cup.”
Though controversial, Maurice’s relationship with the city and the team is omnipresent. His daughter, Sydney, still lives in Winnipeg, and the Maurice family spends their summers not far from the Manitoba city. Even as he leads Florida to new heights and achievements, Winnipeg remains close to his heart.
For the Panthers themselves, the timing of this road trip is crucial.
They are coming off a dominant 5-0 victory over the Jets in Sunrise Saturday, a game that allowed them to snap a two-game skid suffered at the hands of the New Jersey Devils. Both of those losses were also at Amerant Bank Arena.
“I think it was more like we just needed to work harder, that’s about it,” captain Aleksander Barkov said of the difference between the performances. “(Saturday) was a good example of everyone working as hard as possible.”
In that contest, Barkov and forward Sam Reinhart continued their scorching form, with Barkov contributing a goal and two assists and Reinhart extending his point streak to 10 games with three assists.
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was outstanding, bouncing back from a loss to the Devils, posting his first shutout of the season with 27 saves.
Florida’s offense was clicking, with rare goals from Mackie Samoskevich, Nate Schmidt, and Dmitry Kulikov, who each contributed to a thorough dismantling of the Western Conference-leading Jets.
That win was a reminder of just how potent this Panthers team can be when everything is firing on all cylinders.
However, Maurice knows that taking on Winnipeg in their own building is a different animal.
The Jets have a deep roster that includes star players like forwards Kyle Connor and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. And the club had the best start in franchise history, becoming the first team in NHL history to win 15 of their first 16 games, solidifying their status as one of the league’s early-season powerhouses.
“I thought the guys did a great job,” Bobrovsky said after earning his 45th career shutout. “It was a complete game. All four lines were rolling. It was fun to be a part of.”
Despite Saturday’s lopsided score, Winnipeg, which is now coached by Scott Arniel, is bound to come out ready for redemption when the teams meet again on Tuesday in their home arena.
“It’s Game 2 of the series. You know they’re going to play hard, especially when they go back home, both teams will make adjustments, and we’ll see what happens when we get there,” said Schmidt, who is a former Jet.
After Winnipeg, Florida might be able to exhale against a struggling Blackhawks team that is in last place in the Central Division. Florida has already shown it can compete with the best, but can’t take any of the NHL’s bottom feeders lightly, either.
With a roster that includes superstars like Barkov, Reinhart, and Bobrovsky, the Panthers are well equipped to handle whatever challenges come their way on this road trip.
Maurice’s return to Winnipeg will undoubtedly be emotional, but for him, the focus is clear: Continue the Panthers’ drive to defend their Stanley Cup title and build on their already impressive start to the season.
Florida will return home to take on the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.
