Florida Panthers get another classic Paul Maurice quote on Marchand and Tkachuk after win vs Chicago
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Jonathan Ouimet
Jan 26, 2026 (4:02)
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Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk are back, and Paul Maurice says the Florida Panthers suddenly feel louder, deeper, and harder to coach against.
Maurice didn't overthink it. «They both don't stop talking. It's more fun to play hockey when those guys are in the lineup.»
That one line explains the mood shift. When those two are rolling, the bench is alive and the pace follows.
You saw it in his come back. Marchand scored twice, and his second came three minutes into overtime.
The night mattered because it wasn't just a finish. It was a reminder that Marchand can change the temperature of a game in one shift.
Tkachuk's stamp showed up too, feeding Sam Bennett for a power-play goal that dragged Florida right back into it.
Tkachuk and Marchand didn't hit the scoresheet in Chicago, but they still left fingerprints all over the game.
Their presence, experience, and upbeat bench energy lifted everyone else, and the Panthers fed off it to close out a perfect road trip with a convincing, much-needed win
That's where Maurice's «easy to coach» angle comes in. When your top nine is stacked, you stop hunting for one perfect matchup and just keep rolling waves.
Brad Marchand makes the Florida Panthers feel dangerous
Panthers fans know the vibe, the second those two are chirping and smiling, the group looks like it's playing free instead of gripping the stick.
Marchand even brought the fun to the bench vs Chicago, sliding over so Sam Reinhart had nowhere to sit without basically landing on him.
When a kid like Sandis Vilmanis sees a veteran prank a top scorer, it loosens the tension and the whole group plays with lighter, positive vibes.
It also shows trust.
When Maurice feels good about his first three forward units, he doesn't have to chase matchups, he can send out whoever's up next and expect the game to stay on track.
And when Marchand and Tkachuk are driving the room, that confidence spreads fast. It's annoying for opponents, and it's exactly the point.
If «fun» is back for the Florida Panthers, it usually means something serious is coming next.
Some people will never admit it, but it's true, every team would kill to have players like Marchand and Tkachuk on their side.
When a respected coach like Paul Maurice says the game is more fun and easier to coach with them in the lineup, I buy it,
Paul Maurice, Panthers Postgame: Florida goes 3-0 on Roadtrip, Beats Chicago Blackhawks
Also read on Sunrise Hockey Insider :
Florida Panthers in a crucial standings spot, and Brad Marchand still finds time to prank Sam Reinhart
Florida Panthers in a crucial standings spot, and Brad Marchand still finds time to prank Sam Reinhart
Previously on Sunrise Hockey Insider
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 26|21 ANSWERS Florida Panthers get another classic Paul Maurice quote on Marchand and Tkachuk after win vs Chicago Does Brad Marchand change the Florida Panthers identity right now? | ||
| Yes | 21 | 100 % |
| No | 0 | 0 % |
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