SUNRISE — Paul Maurice sat in the aftermath of Game 6 and already was on to Game 7. He already was saying before this Game 7 what he said before the Florida Panthers’ last Game 7.
He already was using the idea any team needs in any Game 7 where one good play or unlucky bounce can begin or end a season’s big hopes.
“They’re free,’’ the Florida Panthers coach said of Game 7s. “They are all the energy you’ve got with no concern about tomorrow. You want to have talked about your game enough all year, so everyone understands the game you’re going to try to play.