The Penguins-Lightning penalty calls on Tuesday night left fans and players baffled. From a dangerous boarding hit to an officiating clock-error, here is the full breakdown of the chaotic third period.
Hockey is a fast game, and sometimes the referees struggle to keep up. That was exactly the case on Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena when a series of bizarre Penguins-Lightning penalty calls became the main talking point of an otherwise stellar goaltending duel. While the Tampa Bay Lightning eventually walked away with a 2-1 shootout victory—their 11th straight win—it was the officiating in the third period that had everyone scratching their heads.
Key Details: The Penguins vs. Lightning Penalty Explosion
| Incident Type | Primary Player | Penalty Assessed | Key Impact |
| Boarding | Connor Clifton (PIT) | 5-Minute Major | Sparked a full-team scrum |
| Retaliation | Anthony Cirelli (TBL) | 10-Min Misconduct + 5-Min Fighting + 2-Min Instigator | Tampa lost a top center for nearly the rest of the game |
| Fight | Clifton vs. Cirelli | 5-Minute Major each | Both players spent time in the box |
| Clock Error | Officials | None | Forgot to post the penalty time on the Jumbotron |
The Hit That Started the Fire
The tension boiled over just three minutes into the third period. Penguins defenseman Connor Clifton caught Lightning forward Brandon Hagel with a heavy hit directly into the numbers along the boards. It was a textbook boarding play that sent Hagel head-first into the wood. The officials immediately signaled a major, but before the whistle could even settle, the ice turned into a battleground.
In the world of the NHL, the unwritten rule is that you protect your teammates. Anthony Cirelli didn’t hesitate, jumping Clifton to defend Hagel. The resulting Penguins-Lightning penalty calls were complicated, to say the least. Clifton was handed five minutes for boarding and another five for the fight. Surprisingly, he wasn’t tossed from the game, which usually happens with hits of that severity.
Retaliation: When the Response Costs More Than the Crime
The most controversial aspect of the Penguins-Lightning penalty calls was how the officials handled Cirelli’s response. While Clifton was the one who initiated the dangerous play, it was Cirelli who received the lion’s share of the time. The refs hit him with a 10-minute misconduct, a five-minute fighting major, and an additional two-minute minor for instigating the scrap.
To many fans in the building, it felt like the officials were punishing the retaliation more than the original dangerous hit. This left Tampa Bay shorthanded in their forward rotation for a significant chunk of the final period. Penguins-Lightning penalty calls Erik Cernak also found himself caught in the crosshairs, receiving a minor penalty during the same scrum. The result was a messy stretch of four-on-four hockey before Tampa finally got a three-minute power play—which they ultimately failed to convert.
A Rare Officiating Gaffe: The Missing Clock
As if the penalties weren’t confusing enough, the game took a turn for the surreal when the officiating crew literally lost track of the situation. Following the reviews, the referees forgot to put an extra Penguins player in the penalty box to serve Clifton’s major. Even more frustrating for the coaches was that the penalty time wasn’t even displayed on the Jumbotron.
For several minutes, players and fans were left guessing how much time was left on the man advantage. It wasn’t until a subsequent whistle that the refs corrected the error, sending Anthony Mantha to the box to serve the final 35 seconds of the penalty. These kinds of mistakes are rare at the professional level, and they only added to the frustration surrounding the Penguins-Lightning penalty calls that night.
Impact on the Final Result
Despite the officiating circus, the game remained a goaltending masterclass. Arturs Silovs was sensational for the Penguins, stopping 30 of 31 shots, while Andrei Vasilevskiy was a “brick wall” on the other end. Evgeni Malkin eventually tied the game late in the third to force overtime, but the Lightning’s momentum from their 11-game win streak proved too much to overcome in the shootout.
While the Penguins-Lightning penalty calls didn’t directly result in a goal, they certainly disrupted the flow of the game. Pittsburgh’s penalty kill did an excellent job of bailing out Clifton, but losing the rhythm in the third period arguably hurt their chances of winning the game in regulation. For the Lightning, losing Cirelli for 17 minutes was a massive hurdle they had to overcome to keep their historic streak alive.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, hockey is a sport of passion and split-second decisions. However, the Penguins-Lightning penalty calls from this Tuesday clash will serve as a case study for why officiating needs more consistency. When a dangerous boarding hit results in fewer total minutes than the retaliation, it sends a mixed message to the players. Regardless of the controversy, both teams showed incredible resilience in what felt like a mid-season playoff game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Was Connor Clifton suspended for the hit on Brandon Hagel?
As of now, the NHL Department of Player Safety has not announced a hearing, though the Penguins-Lightning penalty calls on the ice included a 5-minute major for boarding.
2. Why did Anthony Cirelli get so many penalty minutes?
Cirelli was assessed an instigator minor, a fighting major, and a 10-minute misconduct because he was deemed to have started the fight in response to the hit on Hagel.
3. What happened with the scoreboard clock during the game?
The officials and the off-ice crew failed to post the penalty time on the Jumbotron after the big scrum, leading to several minutes of confusion for both teams.
4. Did the Penguins win the game?
No, despite a late goal from Evgeni Malkin, the Penguins lost 2-1 in a shootout, marking their third straight loss.
5. How long is the Lightning’s current winning streak?
With this victory over Pittsburgh, the Tampa Bay Lightning have won 11 games in a row, tying their franchise record.
Would you like me to look up the NHL Department of Player Safety’s final ruling on Connor Clifton’s hit?
