May 21 (UPI) -- Florida Panthers Coach Paul Maurice said he "didn't love" his team's play despite a 5-2 thrashing of the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Maurice made the comments after the win Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C. The reigning Stanley Cup champions were outshot 33-20, but aided by a 31-save performance from goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
"I think the best growth of our team comes off losses," Maurice told reporters. "I think that's where we learn more. I didn't love our game, but I understood it. Significant style change. Game 1 is that first look of what your game looks like with a completely different opponent.
"We will have to continue to build that game and get better."
Maurice said he most likely felt the same way after the Panthers' first two series openers, against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs. The Panthers split those meetings. They trailed 0-2 to start the second-round series with the Maple Leafs, but are 5-1 since then. The Panthers outscored their foes 24-10 during that span.
