Ozzie
Well-known member
Hagel got double-screwed that series. Still don't really think his suspension was all that warranted. Then he gets concussed by Ekblad in game 4 with no penalty on the play. Ekblad ends up scoring the game tying goal and the Panthers go on to win putting them up 3-1 in the series. A properly called penalty could have put that game away for Tampa and tied the series up.
The NHL did a piss poor job in round 1 protecting players from dirty play. And there are a couple of hits by Panthers on Tampa that I think fell into that category but looking at how long their one round injury list is..... probably there are incidents a casual watcher of this series like me never saw.
Leaf ownership needs to have a meeting before Game1 with NHL brass to make sure their players are protected with enforcement of the rules.... because round 1 was not acceptable by referees and dpos.
If this doesn't get corrected....Panthers are going to do what they did to Tampa which is annihilate them with dirt and injury and bullying.