You can almost always count on seeing Brad Marchand getting into some kind of physical confrontation on the ice during an NHL game. So, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final at the Lenovo Center, there was this moment in the third period at 8:15 where a Panthers forward got hit with a 10-minute penalty. It was a close call that nearly took him out of the game and got him ejected. What was the reason for that?

The Panthers forward made a move on Shayne Gostisbehere while the Hurricanes defenseman was fighting for the puck in his own zone. Even though the refs didn’t blow the whistle on that play, Gostisbehere decided to take action himself and shot the puck at Marchand just moments after. Right after that, the two just jumped in and started throwing punches. Just another classic display of Marchand’s physicality on the ice.

So, with about 12 minutes left in the third period, the Panthers forward got a 10-minute penalty, which meant the team needed to fill his spot in the lineup. Tomas Nosek was the one. The Panthers’ third line features Marchand, with center Anton Lundell and right wing Eetu Luostarinen joining him. With him out of the picture, Nosek really had to step up for the team. So, what were the forward’s thoughts after stepping in for Marchand?

“No, I don’t think so. I try to keep my game simple, and it doesn’t matter who I play with. I try to do my best every time I step on the ice,” Nosek shared. He made his point pretty clear. No matter what line he was on, he understood the kind of plays he had to make to step up in Marchand’s absence. Nosek really stepped up for the Panthers in the third period.

Even though they were already ahead, at 14:55, Eetu Luostarinen found the back of the net with some help from Tomas Nosek and Gustav Forsling. Florida scored their fifth and final goal of the game, securing a win over Carolina right on their home turf. But there’s another Florida teammate who shared their thoughts on the Marchand incident in Game 1.

Brad Marchand’s teammate’s verdict

A 10-minute penalty is quite significant. It definitely caught the attention of teammate Aaron Ekblad, just like it did for the others. The Florida Panthers defenseman said, “I mean, it happens. It is what it is. I mean, we block shots all the time, so what’s the difference? Intent or not, it’s the same.”

So, the big question is, did Shayne Gostisbehere really hit Brad Marchand on purpose? Ekblad mentioned that it really doesn’t matter in a hockey game, particularly during high-stakes playoffs, even if the Canes defenseman did that to the Panthers forward.

The Panthers defenseman talks about how blocking shots is just a normal part of the game, and he mentions that it usually means taking a hit from the puck. So, since Ekblad is a defenseman, he’s probably dealt with similar counters in the past. And what happened was just part of the intense hockey action.