On Monday, the NHL announced that the Tampa Bay Lightning and head coach Jon Cooper would both be fined for the events that unfolded in Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Florida Panthers.
The Lightning were fined $100,000, while Cooper's was $25,000. In addition, the Lightning had four players receive additional discipline from the NHL Department of Player Safety.
Lightning forward Scott Sabourin was suspended for four games for delivering a punch to Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad's head less than three minutes into the first period. He received a match penalty at the time.
The video explanation said Sabourin initially delivered a clean bodycheck, but NHL Player Safety determined his actions were intentional with the purpose of retribution.
“This was not a hockey play gone wrong,” the department said.
If they considered Sabourin's actions to be intentional with the purpose of retribution and message-sending, how did they view A.J. Greer’s hit on Hagel Thursday night?
Midway through the first period, Greer cross-checked Hagel, then appeared to high-stick and sucker punch him in the head. Greer received a 10-minute misconduct penalty on the play, and Hagel exited the game with an undisclosed injury. He was not a participant in practice on Friday.
The Lightning forward has been a focal point for the Panthers since last April, when he received a one-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head on Aleksander Barkov in Game 2 of the first-round. Barkov did not miss a game after the hit.
In addition to Sabourin, Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser was also suspended for two games on Monday for boarding Panthers center Jesper Boqvist. He was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct.
The video provided by the league explained that while Boqvist slightly adjusted his speed in order to play the puck, Moser maintained his pace and delivered a forceful hit from behind that sent Boqvist into the boards.
On Sunday, Lightning defenseman Roman Schmidt and forward Gage Gonclaves were both fined the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement.
Schmidt cross-checked Carter Verhaeghe in the first period and received a major penalty and game misconduct. He was fined $2,098.52.
Gonclaves cross-checked Evan Rodrigues in the second period and received a major penalty and game misconduct. He was fined $3,125.
Together the two teams racked up a combined 322 penalty minutes, with the Lightning accounting for 182 and the Panthers 140.
The NHL Department of Player Safety did not feel the Panthers actions deserved additional discipline following the game.
Tampa Bay's season will begin Thursday night at home against the Ottawa Senators.