NHL accused of favouring Florida Panthers after punishment issued to Tampa Bay Lightning
Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck - Imagn Images
The NHL has announced a bizarre decision to punish only the Tampa Bay Lightning and coach Jon Cooper for their half of an incident against the Florida Panthers.
Fans across the NHL have believed the league has shown some preferential treatment to the Panthers in the past, and this new decision is heating up the debate once again.
NHL announces bizarre punishment for only Tampa Bay Lightning due to brawl with Panthers
According to insider Frank Seravalli, the Lightning organization is being fined $100,000 and coach Jon Cooper will personally be fined for contributing to a preseason game getting out of hand.
The Panthers and Lightning preseason game was the definition of a gong show, to the point where the actual hockey was secondary.
The players were clearly on the ice to settle personal scores and take out their grudges against the opponent, and it resulted in over 300 penalty minutes. At that point, it takes two to tango. This wasn't just Tampa Bay.
What's irked hockey fans here is that the NHL's decision to only punish the Lightning. A punishment was likely warranted, but the Florida Panthers also played a part in this, and really mold their team identity on agitation. To see them receive no punishment is bewildering.
NHL fans are absolutely shocked to see the Panthers once again evade any consequences, while another team pays a literal price this time.
The Panthers have seemingly got away with multiple transgressions over the years, and this may be the most clear example of evading punishment.
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