When Matthew Tkachuk’s late hit sent Jake Guentzel sprawling in Game 3, the NHL playoffs reminded everyone why they’re the toughest grind in sports. The last game had nearly 77 hits per game, 34 from Tampa Bay Lightning and 43 from Florida Panthers. That’s 5 more hits than game 2 and 1 more than game 1. The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are bringing intensity in every round of the series, leading to a controversial penalty in Game 3. But Panthers coach Paul Maurice is shutting down talk of the last game being ‘most physical’ so far. Was the game quiet, according to Maurice or the most physical one yet?

In Saturday’s Game 3, the Lightning rallied from an early deficit to dominate the Panthers 5-1 at Amerant Bank Arena. Florida still holds a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series, with Game 4 set for 7 p.m. Monday in Sunrise. Notably, the road team has won every game so far, adding extra stakes to the next matchup. The game’s flashpoint came late when Matthew Tkachuk leveled Guentzel with a hit deemed interference by officials, earning a five-minute major. Guentzel had just passed the puck to Anthony Cirelli for an empty-net goal when Tkachuk charged in, catching him off-guard with a high, late hit that sent the Lightning forward to the ice.

Paul Maurice, the head coach of the Florida Panthers, however, isn’t feeding into the hype that the game was the most physical in the playoffs, while talking to the media post-game. “I didn’t feel that at all. I thought it was really really quiet. I didn’t feel the intensity of the hitting was much there was a different kind of puck control there wasn’t as much time on the walls,” he said after the game, downplaying the intensity of Tkachuk’s hit. “There wasn’t as much for checking because there were more controlled entries kind of going both ways I like In terms of heavy hits there’s not one that really pops out at me. So there was some chirping but even with that was it was minor.” For Maurice, no hit in Game 3—including Tkachuk’s—stood out as particularly heavy.

He contrasted Game 3 with Game 2, which he called far scrappier, pointing to “at least six scrums” before penalties were issued. “I thought there was way more of that in game two, like there were at least six scrums before they got a penalty.” He referenced an incident in Game 2 when Lightning forward Brandon Hagel’s hard check on Panthers’ captain Aleksander Barkov sidelined him for the final 10 minutes, resulting in Hagel’s one-game suspension. “I think toward the end of the second period in in game two, Brad gets called on the first one and then I didn’t think there was much after that’s my sense. I didn’t feel that it was like that powder keg that was going to blow up. I thought it was kind of like Yeah pretty tight actually.” Both hits—Hagel’s and Tkachuk’s—sparked debate, with Lightning coach Jon Cooper adding fuel to the fire. Yet Maurice remains calm, insisting Game 3 was “pretty tight” and not the powder keg some claim it to be.

The Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy to win, demanding an unmatched physical, mental, and emotional toll. As the Panthers and Lightning continue their bruising battle, Maurice’s cool-headed take sets the tone for a critical Game 4. As the Panthers and Lightning trade blows, this series is proving to be a true test of resilience. Maurice’s calm demeanor amid the storm suggests a calculated approach, keeping his team focused on the bigger prize. But what happens with Matthew Tkachuk now?

Matthew Tkachuk takes heat after laying a questionable hit after the first loss of the playoffs

The playoff series between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning has ignited into a fiery battle, with tensions escalating after a controversial hit by Panthers’ star Matthew Tkachuk in Game 3. Leading 2-0, the Panthers suffered a 5-1 loss to the Lightning, but the game’s talking point was Tkachuk’s ejection after a five-minute major penalty for interference on Lightning forward Jake Guentzel. The hit, delivered well away from the puck, sparked immediate comparisons to an earlier incident in the series.

In Game 2, Alexander Barkov left that game injured and did not return, prompting the NHL’s Department of Player Safety to issue Hagel’s suspension. The parallels between the two incidents—both involving late, puck-distant hits—have fueled debate about whether Tkachuk should face similar discipline. Social media and hockey analysts have drawn direct lines between the plays, with many arguing for consistency in NHL rulings.

Tkachuk’s hit has placed him under intense scrutiny, as the Panthers brace for potential consequences. A suspension would be a significant blow, given Tkachuk’s pivotal role. He scored Florida’s lone goal in Game 3 and was a key contributor to their Stanley Cup run last season, amassing 22 playoff points. Losing him, even for one game, could shift the series’ momentum, despite Florida’s 2-1 lead.

This eye-for-an-eye dynamic underscores the physicality of playoff hockey, but it also puts the NHL in a tough spot. The Department of Player Safety must weigh the intent and impact of Tkachuk’s hit against the precedent set by Hagel’s suspension. As the series progresses, the Panthers will hope to keep their star on the ice, while the Lightning push to capitalize on their Game 3 momentum. The NHL’s decision on Tkachuk could shape the tone for the rest of this heated rivalry.