NHL issues a warning to the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers

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Graham Montgomery
May 10, 2024 (7:44 PM)

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The Boston Bruins are hosting the Florida Panthers for game three tonight. It could be another highly entertaining contest, but the NHL has reportedly warned both teams ahead of the game.

The first two games of this series have been some of the best playoff hockey we've seen this year. These teams absolutely hate each other as we suddenly have a new rivalry in the Atlantic division. The saga will continue tonight at 7PM EST.

#TimeToHunt #NHLBruins Will Continue in Game 3 of Eastern Conference Semi Final Tonight at @tdgarden
in Boston. Series Tied 1-1.

Game 4 Sunday Afternoon in Boston at @tdgarden

📸 | @PR_NHL

#FLAvsBOS #StanleyCupPlayoffs

That being said, tonight's game could have a different vibe to it. The first two games were so great because of all the fisticuffs and fireworks that we have seen from the teams. David Pastrnak even fought Matthew Tkachuk! With the warning from the league though, it seems like the NHL might be trying to calm things down.

Game 3 tonight between Florida and Boston. Game 2 certainly had a nasty tone to it amplified by the Pastrnak/Tkachuk scrap. Both clubs have been told by the NHL this series will be heavily scrutinized moving forward.

As a result, all eyes will be on tonight's officiating crew. Dan O'Rourke and Francois St. Laurent are set to be the referees tonight. Neither of these officials have any ties to either club whatsoever with O'Rourke being a Calgary Native and St. Laurent hailing from Montreal.

Florida Panthers vs. Boston Bruins get refs Dan O'Rourke (#9) and Francois St. Laurent (#8) with Jonny Murray (#95) and Shandor Alphonso (#52) on lines

Hopefully that means we get an impartially called game that is fair to both teams. That being said, the fans likely wouldn't mind if some of those fisticuffs we saw in the first two games carried over.