A questionable call against the Florida Panthers that may have changed the game

This one still feels like it has a different ending if the officials let that crease play breathe for one more second.

Instead, Florida lost a goal, lost the moment, and then watched the game tilt hard.

On the sequence in question, Luostarinen ends up tangled with Carolina goalie Brandon Bussi, and Jameson Olive argued the contact that ties up the stick comes from Bussi's own blocker.

If that's true, the «what is he supposed to do» frustration is totally fair.

Maurice did what coaches are paid to do, he pushed the button and asked for the video.

The on-ice ruling stayed, and the Panthers were tagged with a delay-of-game bench minor right after a Gustav Forsling tripping penalty, creating a brutal two-man disadvantage.

As a fan watching that replay, you can feel the air leave the bench when the call stands. The Panthers had finally found a crack, then got handed a math problem instead.

That's where the night swings, because a wiped goal is bad, but the timing is worse.

Florida goes from chasing a one-shot game to killing a 5-on-3, and Carolina cashes in on the power play to widen the gap.

Tactically, it changes everything about how Florida can play its next few shifts. Instead of rolling forecheck pressure and wearing Carolina down low, you are stuck in survival mode, clearing pucks and praying your legs hold up.

I'm not saying one call guarantees two points, hockey never works that cleanly. But when you gift a top team extra power-play runway right after taking offense off the board, you are basically asking for the game to run away from you.

The ending was flat-out disastrous, because once the momentum swung, it wasn't just a loss, it became an avalanche.

The Panthers were chasing the game in survival mode, and Carolina kept stacking goals until 9-1 looked unreal on the board.

Now the Panthers have to park the anger fast, because the schedule does not care.

The next response game is the real test, and the group has to bring its composure with it.