Blood, bias and the Battle of Florida: how the NHL’s dirtiest rivalry exposed hockey’s old-boy rot

The article discusses the growing rivalry between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL, which has become one of the league's dirtiest and most revealing feuds. The rivalry, once a regional sideshow, has morphed into a clash of styles, politics, and privilege, mirroring the divisions in American society. The article highlights how a series of preseason games between the two teams descended into chaos, with 114 penalties totaling nearly 500 minutes in the box, 16 game misconducts, and one ejected player still managing to pick up an assist. This uneven fallout has raised uncomfortable questions about the NHL's double standards, cronyism, and cultural divide. The article suggests that the Florida Panthers–Tampa Bay Lightning rivalry has exposed the deep-rooted issues within the NHL, such as its power structures and biases, and how they mirror the broader societal problems in the United States.