Panthers Win Game 1, Marchand Ejected After Fight with Gostisbehere

In Game 1 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, tensions boiled over between Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere. The altercation began after Gostisbehere fired a puck at Marchand, prompting Marchand to drop his gloves and engage in a physical fight, ultimately wrestling Gostisbehere to the ice. Marchand was assessed four minutes in roughing and a 10-minute game misconduct, leading to his ejection, while Gostisbehere received a two-minute roughing penalty. Despite being shorthanded following Marchand's ejection, the Panthers secured a 5-2 victory, with notable contributions from players like Aaron Ekblad and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. The fight highlighted the heated nature of the series, which continues with Game 2 scheduled in Raleigh. Marchand, a recent acquisition from the Boston Bruins, has been a strong postseason contributor despite his early exit in this game.