Video reveals exactly why Brad Marchand attacked Shayne Gostisbehere in Game 1

The Florida Panthers got the best of the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final on Tuesday evening, winning 5-1 and getting the series lead despite playing away from home. Frustration grew in the third period of the contest and one player that certainly feeds off it is Brad Marchand.

With the Panthers up 4-1 on the Canes midway through the last frame, Marchand starting things off by just taking a run at Gostisbehere in the offensive zone.

However, as the video shows down below, the Carolina defenseman avoided the hit, but clearly he took Marchand’s number because just moments later he appeared to fire a slapshot directly at Marchand, in a play that look like it was intended to injure.

This is what prompted Marchand to answer by attacking Gostisbehere, who never really dropped the gloves on the sequence. In the short altercation, Marchand landed a couple good shots, but was consequently tossed from the game. He was assessed a four minutes in minor penalties and he received a 10 minute misconduct, which ended his night. Gostisbehere, by comparison, received just a four minute roughing minor.

I have to say that it’s actually quite shocking that more players do not attempt to shoot the puck directly at Marchand during games…

The intensity is more likely going to go up a notch on Thursday night when the Hurricanes will attempt to tie the series at 1 and finally get a victory in the Eastern Conference Final. Carolina has 13 straight losses in conference finals.