Referee’s Bloodied Face Shocks Fans in Panthers-Maple Leafs Game 7—What Really Happened Moments Before Chaos Erupted?
Every now and then, a hockey game throws you a curveball you just don’t see coming—and Sunday’s Game 7 clash between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs served up exactly that. Barely into the second period, veteran NHL referee Chris Rooney took a painful, unintended high stick to the face courtesy of Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola. The impact was so severe it left Rooney bloodied, scrambling off the ice to get stitches, and forced an emergency mid-game substitution with Garrett Rank stepping in. Rooney’s sudden exit swung the spotlight away from the puck and toward the fragile nature of officiating at the highest level, reminding us all just how intense and unpredictable playoff hockey can be. Meanwhile, the contest surged forward with fireworks—Seth Jones breaking the deadlock and a thrilling back-and-forth that had fans on the edge of their seats. It’s moments like these that highlight why you simply cannot blink in Game 7s… because you just might miss something unforgettable. LEARN MORE.
A referee left the Game 7 matchup between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday after a high stick to the face.
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