Fans react to embellishment call on Panthers’ Rodrigues: ‘What a joke’

Game 1 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers had no shortage of drama, and Game 2 continued the trend.

In the second period of Wednesday’s game, Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues was sent face-first into the boards after a big hit from behind by Maple Leafs forward Scott Laughton.

Laughton received a four-minute penalty for roughing, but wasn’t the only player to receive a penalty on the play. Rodrigues was also set to the box after the referee assessed him a two-minute minor for embellishment.

Rodrigues briefly headed to the team’s locker room with an apparent injury from the hit, but would return shortly after.

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said after the game that he didn’t get an explanation from the refs on the embellishment call.

Rule 64.1 of the NHL Rulebook defines embellishment as “any player who blatantly dives, embellishes a fall or reaction or who feigns an injury.”

The officials clearly felt that definition applied to Rodrigues on the play, but fans watching the game had other ideas.

Here are some of the best reactions to the embellishment call in Game 2.