Maurice calm despite losing Game 1: 'Everybody just f-----g breathe'

Head coach Paul Maurice is as cool as a cucumber even though the Florida Panthers dropped the Stanley Cup Final opener 5-2 on Saturday.

Maurice referenced the 3-1 series deficit his club overcame in Round 1 against the Boston Bruins as a reason not to hit the panic button.

"We lost the first game in the Boston series. Well, it got a little better. Then we lost two more, got a little better. Everybody just f-----g breathe, alright," Maurice told reporters postgame, per Sportsnet, as he channeled a foul-mouthed yoga instructor. "I feel like you people have been here, you're tight. Loosen up a little bit."

Maurice also provided an unusual analogy to describe how tough it was to watch Mark Stone's goal that made it 4-2 for the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period.

"Well f--k," Maurice said, according to Florida Hockey Now's Colby Guy. "On a scale of lumpy oatmeal to root canal, it's closer to root canal."

Stone batted down Matthew Tkachuk's high clearing attempt before sniping one past Sergei Bobrovsky.

The Panthers challenged for a high stick, but to no avail. Maurice poked some fun at how brief the review was.

"I think (the refs) were just excited about getting us into the box one more time," Maurice said emphatically, per Bally Sports Florida.

The Golden Knights went 2-for-7 with the man advantage, while the Panthers went 0-for-3.

The Panthers will get a chance to bounce back Monday. They have yet to lose a Game 2 this postseason.