Brad Marchand was ejected from Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final after a tussle with Shayne Gostisbehere, leading to a game misconduct penalty. The incident occurred while the Florida Panthers were comfortably ahead against the Carolina Hurricanes, raising concerns about Marchand's availability for the upcoming games. Both players received penalties after a push from Gostisbehere, which ignited Marchand's infamous competitive spirit.

The aftermath saw a silent locker room as Florida's players refrained from commenting on the incident. Coach Paul Maurice's terse remarks hinted at the team's focus on the next game rather than dwelling on penalties. Marchand expressed his dissatisfaction with the ruling, but the NHL may not impose further sanctions, given the context of the heated playoff environment.