A different perspective on winning

Nearly 30 years into his career, Maurice is chasing a goal he once thought had passed him by

- KEVIN MCGRAN

Paul Maurice figures life at home is going to be unbearable until his Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup.

That’s because of son Jake’s involvement with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades.

They won the Kelly Cup for the third year in a row, and for the last two Jake Maurice has been calling play-by-play.

“My kid’s been in pro hockey for two years and has two rings,” the Florida Panthers coach said recently. “How impossibly unbearable it’s going to be at my house.”

Maurice’s Panthers are still one win away from their first Cup heading into Tuesday night’s Game 5 of the final against the Oilers in Florida, after losing 8-1 on Saturday night.

“Obviously he’s a really good coach and we love having him behind our bench,” Florida winger Carter Verhaeghe said after Saturday’s morning skate. “He’s been around for a long time — I don’t know, is it 30 years? Obviously hasn’t got it done. If we’re going to do it for anyone, it’s going to be for him.”

And it’s hard not to root for Maurice, one of many figures in this final with ties to the Maple Leafs.