Nearly 150 penalty minutes, 9 misconducts, and coach ejected in Panthers–Lightning chaos!

If there was any doubt that bad blood still runs deep between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning, Wednesday night erased it completely. What started as a one-sided Lightning win spiraled into total chaos, featuring nearly 150 penalty minutes, nine misconducts, multiple fights, and Panthers head coach Paul Maurice getting tossed.

This rivalry has been simmering for a while. Earlier this season, the NHL reportedly warned both clubs about letting things get out of hand, after a preseason contest devolved into near-constant scrums. That warning clearly didn’t stick. On Thursday night, misconducts were handed out like candy.

Tampa Bay had already done its damage on the scoreboard, building a 4–0 lead through 40 minutes and eventually cruising to a 6–1 win, powered by two power-play goals. But as the third period opened, Florida’s frustration finally boiled over.

The spark came when Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola and Lightning star Nikita Kucherov got tied up. Matthew Tkachuk then jumped off the bench and took a direct run at Kucherov, which immediately set off Brandon Hagel and triggered absolute mayhem.

What followed was mass confusion. Multiple fights broke out at center ice, headlined by Tkachuk and Hagel in a fiery rematch of their bout from last year’s Canada–USA clash at the 4 Nations Face-Off. At the same time, J.J. Moser tangled with Anton Forsling, while Donovan Sebrango and Darren Raddysh went at it nearby.

In total, officials handed out 13 penalties during the sequence. Jake Guentzel and Kucherov received 10-minute misconducts, while the rest were two-minute minors.

Florida finished with 61 penalty minutes, Tampa Bay with 76. According to ESPN, the Panthers and Bolts, who played against seven times, including pre-season, for a combined 793 (!!) penalty minutes.

FLA 314, TBL 479

The chaos ultimately claimed a coach as well. Paul Maurice was ejected after giving officials an earful, capping off a chaotic night, once again, in Florida.