Paul Maurice stuns reporters with postgame remark after the Florida Panthers humiliating loss

It was a tough night for the Panthers, not because the crowd lacked energy, but because the day's emotions seemed to sit on their shoulders. The game felt disorganized, like the details arrived a half-second late.

The New York Rangers showed up calm and confident, and they played like a group that loved the chaos around them. Once they grabbed the lead, the atmosphere turned from celebration to survival.

Mika Zibanejad dictated everything, and the stat line is historic. He scored the first Winter Classic hat trick ever and finished with five points in a 5-1 win.

As a Panthers fan, it hurt because it looked easy for him, and that's the worst kind of loss.

Alexis Lafrenière piled up three assists, and Artemi Panarin posted three points with two goals and one helper. When those two are flying behind Zibanejad, the ice tilts fast.

Then came the extra twist, Vincent Trocheck, the ex Panther, finishing with two assists. One of them was a gorgeous, highlight-style touch that helped turn a broken moment into another Rangers goal.

Florida actually pushed pucks toward the net, but the push didn't feel connected. The Panthers outshot New York 37-20, yet Igor Shesterkin turned in 36 saves and looked comfortable almost the entire night.

Paul Maurice gave the Panthers plenty of freedom to soak in the day because the Winter Classic is a special event for players and their families, but he also drew a hard line on focus once 5 p.m.hit. He made it clear the switch had to flip, because in a game like this it's easy to lose that focus. That's exactly why his postgame comments felt so surprising, they didn't match the serious, win-or-lose framing he set before the puck even dropped.

Sergei Bobrovsky wasn't himself either, and you could see it in his body language. The sightlines and angles in a ballpark can feel strange, and he looked like he never fully settled.

Seth Jones leaving in the first period was a massive blow, and he never returned after taking a puck up high while blocking a dangerous shot. It changed Florida's bench instantly, because his minutes are the kind you can't replace on the fly. On a night already swirling with emotion, losing him early only made the Panthers look even more scrambled.

Sam Reinhart still delivered the one clean Panthers moment, a third-period power-play goal that at least kept the building alive. Even in a loss, that consistency is why teammates trust him.

Miami will remember the spectacle, the photos, and the novelty forever. The Panthers need to remember the lesson, because those were two points that can haunt you in April.