You can really feel the temperature rise when hockey playoffs begin. While many think the body checking, fist-fighting nature of the regular season is intense, the intensity skyrockets once teams begin duking it out in a best-of-7 series.
It’s safe to say the pot has boiled over between division rivals Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning. The two passionate teams have legitimate reason to believe this year could be their year, but they have to deal with each other first. One particular moment from Saturday afternoon’s affair left a sour taste in the mouths of both sides.
Just over halfway through the 2nd frame, Nick Ritchie hit Yanni Gourde off his feet and flying into the boards. Some thought it was a hit from behind, others thought it was late, while Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy took to the mic to explain why he thought it was a fair hockey play.
Cassidy brings up an uncalled hit from Cedric Paquette on Karson Kuhlman as an example of a precedent that the refs had set. Later in the game, Ritchie would fight Barclay Goodrow.
As you’d expect, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper didn’t agree with Cassidy’s comments. Although, he did agree that Yanni Gourde is in fact clever…
Well, there’s at least one more game to go in the series. We’re sure it’s going to be a good one.
