That's just not possible, Max Jones.
Boston's left winger was accidentally hit when he was involved in a post-whistle scuffle. Controlled the referee's skills Devin Berg tries to chop into the stick of Florida's Evan Rodriguez during the Bruins' 6-4 loss to the Panthers in Tuesday's season opener.
The official was skating between two players who were cutting back on extracurricular activities. That seems to have been the plan – at least.
Judging by the look on Jones' face, hitting Berg was clearly not his intention.
Bruin immediately went to check with the referee, who then sent him to the penalty box for unsportsmanlike conduct and ordered him to serve two minutes.
The incident occurred late in the second period of the contest.
Jones, who spent the first six years of his NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks, made his debut in the gold and black uniform.
Tuesday night's game was shaky from the start, and the rivalry between the Bruins and Panthers has grown into one of the league's most intense in recent years.
The two teams met in the second round of the playoffs last season, with Florida defeating Boston in six games en route to its first-ever Stanley Cup.
The Panthers shocked the top-seeded Bruins in the 2023 playoffs as well.
On Tuesday, the bad blood spilled over elsewhere.
After watching the Panthers raise their first championship flag to the rafters, former Bruin AJ Greer said: dropped my gloves for a dance with Bruins rookie Mark Kastelick.
Bottom of the 3rd inning, Panthers Center Sam Bennett trucks the Bruins netminder. Joonas Korpisalo scored his second goal of the night, and Florida's sixth.
The altercation that turned from Jones vs. Rodriguez to Jones vs. Berg sandwiched these two scuffles.
Hitting an official typically carries severe penalties and suspensions, but it's unclear whether Jones will face further punishment from the NHL, given that the slash appears to have been inadvertent.
The rulebook states: “A player who intentionally inflicts physical violence against a referee in any way shall not attempt to injure or physically humiliate a referee in any way, during or immediately after a match. If a player intentionally inflicts physical violence on an umpire for the sole purpose of gaining his release from the umpire, the altercation will be subject to a game misconduct penalty. ”
