Dave Hyde: Panthers’ Paul Maurice Handles Playoff Losses Like No One Else

SUNRISE — There’s something uniquely gripping about the manner Paul Maurice discusses Florida Panthers playoff games. He stomped the length of the bench in the second period of Tuesday’s Game 5, snorting and ranting to his players about their mysterious lack of energy to the point you expected cartoon smoke to blow from his ears. He was properly mad, too, because of all the reasons you don’t expect to lose this time of year, the biggest remains this: They weren’t ready. How could the Florida Panthers not be ready to go? You spend a season to reach nights like this. How could they not be emotionally and desperately ready to bring their best game, finish off Boston,  advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, stave off any potential surprise and even gain a few days of valued rest? “I didn’t like our game,’’ Maurice said after the 2-1 loss that pushed the series to Boston for Friday’s Game 6. He was then asked about his blow-out anger behind the bench.