NHL referees are held to high standards to ensure fair play for both teams. However, a recent hot mic incident during the Eastern Conference Finals caught a referee seemingly allowing the Florida Panthers to get away with a penalty.
In the play, referee Steve Kozari was overheard telling Matthew Tkachuk to shove Alexis Lafreniere in response to Lafreniere's earlier shove. Tkachuk followed Kozari's suggestion, and the players laughed it off.
Although this appeared to be a joke with no favoritism intended, it raises questions about the influence referees have on the game. If Kozari had allowed Tkachuk to retaliate without saying anything, it could have caused more issues. This incident will be something to watch during the Stanley Cup Finals, where Steve Kozari is one of the referees.
If officiating becomes a concern during the Finals, this moment might be referenced. Currently, the Florida Panthers lead the series 1-0 after their win last night.
