NHL announces multiple fines, hearings from Panthers, Lightning preseason game
The National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety on Sunday announced multiple fines and hearings related to Saturday’s preseason game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers.
Tampa Bay’s Roman Schmidt has been fined $2,098.52, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for cross-checking Florida’s Carter Verhaeghe.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) October 5, 2025
Tampa Bay’s Gage Goncalves has been fined $3,125.00, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for cross-checking Florida’s Evan Rodrigues.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) October 5, 2025
Lightning forward Gage Conclaves was fined $3,125 for cross-checking Panthers’ forward Evan Rodrigues, and Tampa Bay defender Roman Schmidt was dinged $2,098.52 for roughing Florida forward Carter Vergaeghe.
Tampa Bay’s Scott Sabourin will have a hearing for roughing Florida’s Aaron Ekblad. Date and time TBD.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) October 5, 2025
Tampa Bay’s J.J. Moser will have a hearing for boarding Florida’s Jesper Boqvist. Date and time TBD.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) October 5, 2025
The league also announced that Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser will have a hearing for boarding Panthers’ forward Jesper Boqvist, as will Tampa Bay forward Scott Sabourin for roughing Florida’s Aaron Ekblad.
The Battle of Florida is picking up right where it left off 😳 pic.twitter.com/Oecdk1WHxa
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 4, 2025
The two teams combined for more than 300 penalty minutes on Saturday, including 16 ejections. At one point, there were three skaters on the Tampa bench.
“The two Florida teams have had a lot of success in this league the last six years,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “And I think anybody that’s been a part of this rivalry would probably look at this box score and not be surprised and be like, I can’t believe it’s taken this long for something like that to happen.
“It’s two extremely proud franchises and the boys played with their heart on their sleeves,” Cooper added. “That’s all I can say.”
The Panthers won 7-0.
Just days earlier, the two teams met for another preseason game and finished with a combined 186 penalty minutes. Panthers’ forward A.J. Greer was fined for roughing Lightning forward Brandon Hagel.