‘This isn’t The Oprah Winfrey Show. My feelings don’t matter’: Maurice on Draisaitl-Barkov hit

Paul Maurice’s post-game press conferences have become their own little dish of entertainment, and the one Monday night didn’t disappoint.

Following the Florida Panthers’ 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers, giving the club a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final, the Panthers’ head coach was asked his feelings on the hit delivered by Leon Draisaitl that sent Florida captain Aleksander Barkov to the dressing room, where he did not return.

Paul Maurice on Draisaitl hit on Barkov: “This isn’t the Oprah Winfrey show, my feelings don’t matter.”

Barkov didn’t return following the hit.

“There was 9:28 on the clock, I believe, and it was a 2-1 game. I wasn’t holding him back,” Maurice said.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 11, 2024

“This isn’t The Oprah Winfrey Show. My feelings don’t matter,” Maurice said.

Taken out of context, the quote is an instant classic and provided plenty of laughs via social media. But Maurice, now in his second season with the Panthers, is clearly frustrated that the team could be without their captain for an extended period of time.

The incident occurred midway through the third period when Barkov took an elbow to the jaw from Draisaitl. Draisaitl would receive a two-minute minor for roughing.

After review, Leon Draisaitl received a two minute minor for roughing on this play pic.twitter.com/RUte3qm4zw

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 11, 2024

The Panthers would make good with the man advantage, with forward Evan Rodrigues scoring his second of the game off a deflection to give Florida a 3-1 lead.

EVAN RODRIGUES AGAIN 😱 pic.twitter.com/PC75upGTco

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 11, 2024

The Panthers are now two wins away from winning their first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history, and the third Stanley Cup title in the state of Florida in five seasons, with the Tampa Bay Lightning winning twice in 2020 and 2021.

Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final is Thursday in Edmonton. Puck drop is at 8 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT.