Paul Maurice rips officiating, NHL after overtime loss to Maple Leafs

Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice spoke after his team’s overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs and directed his frustration at the officials, going as far as attributing it to personal issues with referee Francois St. Laurent.

On Tuesday night, the Panthers went on the penalty kill seven times in the first 40 minutes and went on to lose 5-4 to the Maple Leafs in overtime. When Maurice was asked about the calls and the penalties, he ripped into the officials and the NHL and might be fined for his comments. Maurice said he told his players that this was not on them, but it all had to do with old beef with one of the officials.

“I just explained to them that it had nothing to do with my players,” Maurice said with a hearty laugh. “It has to do with a relationship I have with one of the referees. That’s what that was all about.”

It is assumed he meant St. Laurent since Maurice was fined $5,000 for berating St. Laurent during a game in which Winnipeg Jets’ Bryan Little was injured on a hit from Anton Stralman. Maurice was ejected from that game by St. Laurent.

“There will always be penalties that you take in a game here,” Maurice said. “But there is a whole lot you’re not going to like at all. We had the inordinant share of those hard-to-describe the calls. …

“I don’t know what the hell those two were doing tonight. It certainly wasn’t Florida Panther friendly.”

It feels like a fine will be coming indeed… and these statements from the coach probably didn’t improve his relationship with St. Laurent…

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