The already intense in-state rivalry escalated during a recent preseason clash when Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel was forced to exit a game against the Florida Panthers with an undisclosed injury. The incident occurred midway through the first period when Panthers forward A.J. Greer cross-checked Hagel, then appeared to high-stick him and punch him in the head. Greer received a 10-minute misconduct penalty on the play and was later fined $2,213.54, the maximum allowable under the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, for roughing.

The altercation was a catalyst for a game that spiraled into chaos, with the two teams combining for a staggering 186 penalty minutes. Prior to the third preseason matchup between the teams, Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice addressed the previous game’s events and the potential for continued animosity.

In comments captured on the FloridaHockeyNow YouTube channel, Maurice acknowledged the built-up tension: “A little more meaningful. There’s just more potential for them to escalate because we see each other so much, and we’ve got really good players on both teams, and they’ve both won, so there’s a connection there.” He suggested that while a certain level of physical play is expected, the line can be easily crossed.

“So as long as it’s, you know, reasonable, it’ll stay that way. Once it gets out of hand, it just gets out of hand fast,” said the Panthers coach. Drawing on his vast experience, the veteran coach then offered a prediction for the rematch, indicating that both sides may have gotten the hostility out of their systems.

He said, “I think everybody had enough of it in the last game, and I would have seen that enough times that a lot of times the next game there’s really nothing to it because both teams kind of stood up for themselves, and they both agree that this is the way it’s going to go if it gets silly. So usually the puck just gets managed pretty well.” This perspective highlights a coach’s understanding of the emotional ebbs and flows of a long season and a fierce rivalry.

Meanwhile, Lightning coach Jon Cooper remained focused on the bigger picture, deflecting questions about Hagel’s status by emphasizing that the priority was “being ready a week from tonight, not tonight.” With the final preseason game serving as a last test before the regular season, Maurice’s calm analysis suggested an expectation of a more disciplined, hockey-focused contest, even as the underlying rivalry continues to simmer. However, he was quite open about changing strategies in between the preseason games to maximize the results.

Paul Maurice’s ideas are endless when it comes to the Panthers

With the Florida Panthers’ preseason record at two wins and four losses—having taken two hits from Nashville and two from Tampa Bay, but managing to snag wins against Carolina—coach Paul Maurice was gearing up to make a big call. Jameson Olive shared on X that “Maurice said there will be a ‘large’ reassignment of players today and tomorrow. Panthers expected to go close to their full lineup for the final two preseason games.”

Consistent with his stated attitude, Maurice often ends sessions as soon as he thinks his squad has accomplished enough to warrant continuing. He bases his relationships with his players on honesty and meticulously manages their workload. It looked like the team was really focusing on fine-tuning their lineup and getting everything in order before the regular season kicks off. They were shifting gears from just evaluating players to actually gearing up for some solid performances.

So, you know how it goes—everything’s kind of trial and error during the preseason. The Panthers are definitely gearing up for that legendary three-peat when the real action kicks off.