“We’ve been in some tough spots and found a win,” the Florida Panthers’ head coach, Paul Maurice, sounded proud about how his squad clinched a thrilling OT win in Game 2 against the Oilers. But for the next bout against Edmonton, it could be less of a “tough spot” for Matthew Tkachuk & Co. on Monday when Game 3 arrives at the Amerant Bank Arena. However, the trip from Edmonton and Miami aren’t exactly adjacent neighborhoods, and exhaustion could kick in for both teams. But, being the veteran that Maurice is, he isn’t one to give in to such things.

Traveling is one of the biggest parts of being an NHL player. Along with taking on some of the best opponents in hockey, stars also have to tackle extensive air time to keep up with the demanding schedule of the league. However, Paul Maurice, knowing what his team is capable of, isn’t one to believe that the traveling ahead of Game 3 would come with any serious impacts.

In a YouTube upload by Florida Hockey Now from June 8, Coach Maurice could be heard talking about how the Cats are gearing up to host the 2025 Western Conference champs on June 9. At one point in the conversation, the issue of traveling came up. On being asked whether the coach would have preferred it if there was one less day before Game 3, following the “emotional win” in Game 2, Maurice brushed off the speculations about travel time and rest days having any significant effects.

Paul Maurice told the reporter, “Both teams will take the two days gladly…There aren’t as many edges as you might think.” He went on o note how the two teams’ incredible form and skill negates any external factors like traveling exhaustion. “Well, if they had played the next day, only had a day’s rest or they fly in the day…Those are minor factors that we’ll look back on, and say if whoever won, won because of that, and whoever lost. But I don’t think any of that’s true. This is so close out there,” he added.

“…all the factors that we talk about, which are interesting to talk about, and they’re interesting in between days. I just don’t think that they play…They’re not an excuse. They just be a factor. So the two days off are great for both teams,” Paul Maurice couldn’t stop iterating how the traveling is part and parcel of the job.

However, it’s not like this is the first time that the issue of traveling has come up during a conversation with the Florida Panthers coach. And it’s not the first time, either, that both Paul Maurice and his counterpart from the opposing team have had to adjust their tactics significantly in order to ensure that the schedule of the League doesn’t affect the players’ form.

Paul Maurice isn’t the only coach to overlook travel troubles

Just a few days ago, Coach Maurice had another chance to talk about how he thought that the tight schedule of the NHL helps to, in his eyes, to keep the athletes battle-ready. “The original idea was, because you get the reset, right? You get some time off, some rest, and you come back. It’s the opposite,” Paul Maurice said, “I will say we will have more energy for this series than any of the three prior, and that’s been true, and I’m sure it’s true of Edmonton as well.”

Kris Knoblauch, the Oilers boss, didn’t have anything drastically different to say on the matter, either. The veteran Edmonton coach took a step further to note how things are much easier today than they used to be back in the day. “Well, I look back and I’m thinking about some of the road trips I used to do when I was in the Western Hockey League, and this is absolutely nothing, just a breeze,” Knoblauch, much like Paul Maurice, dismissed all speculations about how the players would feel the miles on them ahead of the Cup finals.

So, who do you think will be the better team to handle the long road trip to Miami and still be the better squad on Monday? With the best-of-7 series tied 1-1, do you think Paul Maurice’s boys can hold the fort for two games before once again hitting the road? Tell us your thoughts below!