Evan Rodrigues speaks to the media after a practice at the Baptist Health IcePlex. (Florida Panthers) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/f2e0dbb4-fbf3-4486-8fef-c86f3fb1a310.png] Evan Rodrigues speaks to the media after a practice at the Baptist Health IcePlex. (Florida Panthers) It’s been a lively second-round playoff series between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs so far. Entering Sunday’s Game 4, the Maple Leafs hold a 2-1 series lead over the Panthers after winning the opening two games in Toronto. Florida has since battled back, picking up a big overtime win in Game 3 on Friday night. Going back to last week for a moment, there was a play that occurred during Game 2 that left players, coaches and fans alike all confused and scratching their heads. The play in question was a hit from behind by Scott Laughton on Evan Rodrigues that left the latter in pain on the ice and immediately led to an on-ice scrum. After the dust settled, the officials announced the penalties from the whole hullabaloo, and this is where the shock came in. Among the calls, Rodrigues was penalized for embellishment on the play. When the announcement was made, Rodrigues was already in Florida’s locker room receiving treatment for the hit. Eventually, Rodrigues returned to the game. Afterwards, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said that he received no explanation from any of the officials on the ice. He has since poked fun at the call, clearly as flabbergasted as the rest of us as to the reasoning behind such a penalty. On Saturday in South Florida, Rodrigues spoke to the media for the first time since everything went down three days ago at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. “I didn’t find out until after the game, to be honest,” Rodrigues admitted. “I didn’t have a clue. I figured there were coincidental roughing (penalties).” Embellishment penalties, at least for some, are a sore spot, but for a different reason. It’s simply because embellishment never seems to be called without a corresponding penalty, so apparently the only time a player embellishes to get a call is when an actual penalty takes place, which seems silly. That wasn’t the case here, though. There was no call on Laughton for the hit on Rodrigues, according to the NHL’s official game sheet. The calls on the play, all minor penalties, were Rodrigues for embellishment, Nate Schmidt for roughing Laughton, and Laughton received two minors for roughing Schmidt. So not only was Rodrigues called for embellishing a hit that sent him to the locker room with an injury, but the hit itself was never penalized. By the time the dust had settled from the game, there was nothing to do about the play other than watch the video with your mouth hanging half open wondering what the officials were thinking. Not that we’ll find out, as the NHL is the only of the four major sports that doesn’t make its officials available to a pool reporter after the game. And for those wondering, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who met with the media Friday in Sunrise before Game 3, said that he doesn’t see any reason why that should change. Which means all of us, just like Rodrigues, have to soldier on and wait for the next battle. “I couldn’t believe it,” Rodrigues said. “My bother texted me and I was shocked, but the game was over at that point, so you just move on and get ready for Game 3.” LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Panthers Hit Home Run With Brad Marchand Trade [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-hit-home-run-with-brad-marchand-trade] Three takeaways: Panthers finally play to their identity, savvy lineup changes pay huge dividends [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/three-takeaways-panthers-finally-play-to-their-identity-savvy-lineup-changes-pay-huge-dividends] All 4 lines contribute as Panthers get back in series with Game 3 OT win over Toronto [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/all-4-lines-contribute-as-panthers-get-back-in-series-with-game-3-ot-win-over-toronto] Panthers Make Lineup Changes For Game 3 Against Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-make-lineup-changes-for-game-3-against-maple-leafs] The Hockey Show: Steve Levy talks Stanley Cup Playoffs, Barry Melrose, This Is SportsCenter commercials [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/the-hockey-show-steve-levy-talks-stanley-cup-playoffs-barry-melrose-this-is-sportscenter-commercials]
