Overview

• Scott Sabourin received four games for roughing Aaron Ekblad, and J.J. Moser got two games for boarding Jesper Boqvist, following Saturday’s Tampa Bay–Florida preseason finale.
• The NHL fined the Lightning $100,000 and head coach Jon Cooper $25,000 for their role in the events surrounding the game.
• Roman Schmidt and Gage Goncalves were assessed maximum CBA fines for separate cross‑checks on Carter Verhaeghe and Evan Rodrigues, respectively.
• Player Safety described Sabourin’s conduct as an ungloved sucker punch delivered with intent for retribution and message‑sending, noting the recent context between the teams.
• Officials called 65 penalties, 16 game misconducts and 312 penalty minutes, and a Panthers goal was later erased after an already‑ejected player appeared on the ice; Ekblad practiced Monday and is expected to play in the opener while Sabourin was reassigned to the AHL, with his NHL suspension served only when on an NHL roster.