Florida Panthers head coach Andrew Brunette has fired back at the rumors that several of his players were at a strip club partying in the night before a crucial Game 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

On Monday, the Panthers were on the headlines for all the wrong reasons after two radio hosts from Tampa Bay claimed that their sources have spotted Panthers players partying in a strip club until 3:00 a.m. on Monday morning.

Now it would have been fine if the Panthers had no game on Monday night and if they were actually leading. However, not only do they have their Game 4 scheduled against the Lightning on the same day, but they are actually trailing the series 3-0.

Upon seeing the news, however, Brunette denied the allegation and even told the radio hosts to check their sources.

“I don’t know where that comes from,” the Panthers coach said, per team reporter Jameson Olive. “In our universe, probably check your sources.”

For what it's worth, another media personality corroborated the earlier reports on several Panthers players being in a strip club, with Andy Slater of FOX Sports 640 saying that his sources also confirmed the sighting.

Of course this is another case of their word against ours. However, regardless of what really happened, for such rumor to come out is not a good look for Andrew Brunette and the Panthers. Plus, it can be absolutely distracting.