If you’re wondering what’s going on in the NHL lately, Game 4 between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning just gave you the answer—pure chaos. Playoff hockey is always intense, but this game crossed the line from competitive to controversial, leaving fans and players frustrated with the NHL’s officiating.
It started with bad blood carried over from previous games. Brandon Hagel, back from suspension for a dirty hit on Sasha Barkov, became a marked man. Aaron Ekblad made that clear with a brutal forearm shiver to Hagel’s chin. An obvious blow that somehow drew no penalty. Even with the referee in plain view, the hit was ignored, setting the tone for what would become a dangerously unregulated contest. For a full video reaction check below.
Officiating Questions Pile Up
Tensions only escalated after the missed call. The Panthers opened the scoring in the second, but the Lightning answered with two rapid goals just 11 seconds apart—momentarily quieting the Florida crowd. Then, things got uglier.
Just 15 seconds into the third period, Nico Mikkola launched a reckless hit on a vulnerable Lightning player. This time, the officials issued a five-minute major and a game misconduct. But the inconsistency left fans, and Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper, visibly irate. The Lightning failed to capitalize on the power play, and Florida responded by drawing a penalty of their own.
Although the Panthers’ first power-play goal was overturned due to an offside, they didn’t need long to strike back. Sam Reinhart’s rebound led to a game-tying goal from Ekblad—the very player who arguably should’ve been ejected earlier — get full reactions here. Moments later, Seth Jones scored another goal, again just 11 seconds later, swinging momentum sharply in Florida’s favor.
What’s Going On in the NHL: Violence Overrules Skill
The Panthers sealed the 4–2 win with an empty-netter, taking a 3–1 series lead. But the victory feels overshadowed by the game’s overall tone. From retaliatory hits to inconsistent discipline, what’s going on in the NHL is becoming a real concern, not just for fans but for the league’s integrity.
Playoff hockey should be hard-hitting and emotional, but when rule enforcement becomes inconsistent, safety and fairness are at risk. As Game 5 approaches, all eyes will be on how the NHL handles the mounting tension in this increasingly volatile series.
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