Panthers’ Paul Maurice tells fans what to expect for Game 4

Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Panthers in Florida on Monday night was wild. In the end, the Panthers overwhelmed the Oilers in a blowout 6-1 win, which also featured a staggering 140 penalty minutes, a near line brawl, and Edmonton defenseman Jake Walman irritated enough to squirt a stream from his water bottle at the Florida bench.

Unfortunately for the Oilers, the Panthers excel at agitation and Game 3 played right into their playbook.

However, when meeting with media on Tuesday, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice spoke about Game 4, which takes place tomorrow night, and explained how he doesn’t believe it will look anything like Monday’s chaotic contest.

He expects Game 4 to look more like Games 1 and 2.

The start of the series in Edmonton were two tightly played games that left the series tied 1-1 — both of which needed overtime to be settled.

Edmonton cannot take the bait to play into the Panthers’ agitation and mind games if they want to even out the series before heading back home for Saturday’s Game 5.

And it sounds like Maurice believes the Oilers will not take that bait once again.

So, whatever happened Monday is done. Set aside.

“The experience of taking a beating and then being able to come back and play your next game let’s you know (character is) there,” Maurice said. “It’s also what we expect from Edmonton.”

I guess we will find out soon enough on Thursday night.