Lightning, Panthers net 312 PIM in preseason tilt

""I have no idea," Florida coach Paul Maurice said, when asked what message Tampa Bay was trying to send with their style of play. "I'm not worried about it, training camp is over. We had some good games ... and no one was complaining about ice time by the end of it, so it's over." Florida had 17 power-play chances in the game, by the NHL's count."

""It got silly. It got stupid by the end of it," Florida forward Evan Rodrigues said. "It wasn't really hockey out there." The parade to the penalty boxes started about two minutes into the game when Tampa Bay's Scott Sabourin -- who was among six players the Lightning called up for the game -- went after Florida's Aaron Ekblad. Sabourin got a major penalty after playing only 19 seconds."

"There were 65 penalties for 312 minutes on the stat sheet, including 13 game misconduct penalties -- seven for Tampa Bay, six for Florida. The penalty count kept rising after the game, while officials were making sure everything that was called got logged."

"Niko Mikkola had an assist on a goal that gave the Florida Panthers an 8-0 lead. Problem was, he'd been kicked out of the game a few minutes earlier and nobody noticed. What would have been the eighth Florida goal of the night, midway through the third period, was taken away 15 minutes after Jesper Boqvist scored. Off-ice officials realized that Mikkola couldn't have had an assist on the play -- since he'd been ejected earlier in the period."

Florida beat Tampa Bay 7-0 in the preseason finale, but the result was eclipsed by extreme physicality and disciplinary breakdowns. The teams combined for 65 penalties totaling 312 minutes and 13 game misconducts. Florida received 17 power-play chances amid waves of penalties. Early escalation occurred when Tampa Bay's Scott Sabourin attacked Aaron Ekblad and received a major after 19 seconds. Off-ice review later removed an assist credited to Niko Mikkola after officials determined he had been ejected earlier. Players called the game “silly” and “not really hockey,” and coaches expressed uncertainty about Tampa Bay’s approach.

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