Sixteen players were ejected, and a staggering 312 penalty minutes were handed out during a recent preseason showdown between the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the end, the Panthers dominated with a 7-0 victory.
This rematch came just days after their last encounter, which saw both teams rack up 186 penalty minutes in a 5-2 win for the Lightning. The rivalry heated up after Panthers forward A.J. Greer made a reckless move against Lightning’s Brandon Hagel. Lightning coach Jon Cooper noted that it was unsurprising to see such chaos, given the fierce competition between the two teams.
In the latest game, the Lightning struggled on the power play, going 0-for-6, while the Panthers capitalized with four power-play goals from 17 opportunities. Remarkably, the NHL record for total penalty minutes is 419, set in a game between the Ottawa Senators and the Philadelphia Flyers in March 2004.
Cooper expressed concern about his team’s penalty kill after witnessing 17 kills throughout the game. “I don’t think I’ve seen that in a long time,” he said. Meanwhile, Panthers defenseman Jeff Petry remarked on the intensity of this rivalry, recalling similar matchups in the past.
A strange moment occurred in the third period when Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola was issued a game misconduct but continued to play and even assisted on a goal. Later, the NHL ruled the goal invalid due to Mikkola being ineligible.
Just two minutes into the first period, Lightning forward Scott Sabourin was ejected after hitting Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad in the face. Other players quickly followed, leading to a chaotic game that left the Lightning with just three skaters on the bench at one point.
“I think we had more coaches than players on the bench at one point,” Cooper said, reflecting on the unusual situation. Players shared their own thoughts on the overwhelming chaos, with Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues commenting, “It just got silly. By the end, it wasn’t really hockey out there.”
As the Panthers look forward to their season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks, they’ll also celebrate their championship banner. The Lightning will face off against the Ottawa Senators, who are no strangers to intense preseason battles.
This matchup goes beyond just a game; it highlights the growing intensity in the league and the fierce rivalries that keep fans on the edge of their seats.
For additional insights on NHL rivalries and their impact on the league, visit NHL.com.
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Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, NHL
