It's a clash of former Canadiens draft picks from 2018, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Alexander Romanov, in the first-round matchup between the New York Islanders and the Carolina Hurricanes.
In the playoffs, rivals become outright enemies, as seen in the following scene. Let's just say it gets heated regularly, and emotions are running high.
The referees are even more in demand, as they regularly have to separate players during skirmishes. However, for former Canadiens KK and Romanov, it's a different story.
Indeed, the defenseman and the forward have developed a friendship amidst the chaos. Kotkaniemi even said to the referee, "he's my boy." Even the official seemed a bit perplexed by what was happening.
