Panthers Lightning Preseason Games Marked by Over 500 Penalty Minutes, Multiple Ejections

The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning concluded their NHL preseason with two highly physical and penalty-laden games, marked by intense rivalry and multiple brawls. Over the two games, the teams combined for an extraordinary 508 penalty minutes and 26 misconduct penalties, with the final game alone featuring 18 misconducts, 16 ejections, and 322 penalty minutes, leading to a chaotic atmosphere far removed from typical hockey play. Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues stood out by scoring a hat trick and avoiding penalties amid the disorder. Key incidents included Tampa's Scott Sabourin being ejected early for hitting Panthers' Aaron Ekblad, who was later reevaluated for injury. The rivalry's intensity spilled onto social media, with some fans criticizing the excessive violence and questioning the sportsmanship during preseason games. Despite the chaos, Tampa Bay secured a 5-2 win in one matchup, while Florida dominated the other with a 7-0 victory, setting the stage for another intense regular season between these two contentious Florida teams.