A creamy controversy is brewing in the Florida Panthers locker room about Brad Marchand’s between-period snack during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
The question: Did Marchand actually eat ice cream during the second intermission of Saturday night’s game?
Marchand claims he did, though it might be a frozen fib.
“I know he said it,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “I’m just not sure that makes it a fact.”
This sugary story emerged shortly after Florida’s 6-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Marchand did an interview with Sportsnet where reporter Kyle Bukauskas asked about video footage showing him eating something from a spoon between periods.
The Panthers had recently gained attention for visiting a Dairy Queen in North Carolina during their road trip for Games 1 and 2 against the Hurricanes. A fan’s social media posts about seeing Florida players enjoying ice cream went viral.
“No chance you were fueling with a Blizzard there, were you?” Bukauskas asked.
“Yeah, that’s a little chocolate chip cookie dough Blizzard right there,” Marchand said.
There is a Dairy Queen about 2.4 miles from the Panthers’ home arena that was still open during the second intermission. While technically possible for ice cream to be delivered, it’s unlikely.
NHL teams typically provide high-protein snacks for players between periods. Many suspect Marchand was actually eating peanut butter, a common mid-game energy source for hockey players.
Maurice didn’t completely dismiss the ice cream story but seemed skeptical.
“There are cameras everywhere, man. We can’t get away with anything anymore,” Maurice said. “But that would be a good story.”
Marchand, known for his media savvy, looked directly into the camera after mentioning the Blizzard, suggesting an ulterior motive.
“You can’t beat it. It’s the best dessert in the world,” Marchand said. “So, I better get a lifetime free supply of Dairy Queen now. Thank you, fellas.”
Whatever Marchand consumed between periods seemed effective. He scored a goal in the third period, contributing to Florida’s five-goal outburst that secured the win.
AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
