A TNT score bug malfunction in Sunday's Game 7 between the Panthers and Bruins has some hockey fans wondering whether the network accidentally revealed a brief glimpse at a predetermined script from the opening round series.
It appeared that, late in Sunday's winner-take-all game, Boston would win: The Bruins overcame a 2-0 deficit, including 2-1 at the end of the second period, to take a 3-2 lead as time continued to tick off the game clock. Eventually, the Panthers emptied the net with just minutes left to play and in desperate need of a season-extending goal.
Florida ultimately got that goal from defenseman Brandon Montour, whose score with 59.3 seconds left tied the game at 3-3 and ultimately sent the game to an overtime period. And a TNT score bug that directly preceded his goal appears to have predicted the goal.
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The network's score bug briefly flashed "GOAL" for the Panthers before completely disappearing from view for roughly 20 seconds. The bug finally returned to the screen for roughly 10 seconds at the 1:08 mark. Montour turned the malfunction into a would-be prophecy:
WHAT DID THE TNT SCOREBUG KNOW??? pic.twitter.com/XcKnZIoxVO
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 1, 2023
Florida's Carter Verhaeghe scored a goal at the 11:25 mark in overtime to give Florida a 4-3 win, at once sending the Panthers to the second round vs. the Maple Leafs and eliminating the recipients of the Presidents' Trophy from the playoffs.
PANTHERS JUST UPSET THE BRUINS IN THE FIRST ROUND
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 1, 2023
WOW 😱🤯 pic.twitter.com/TQEbmIEa7p
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With that, the question must be asked: Did TNT accidentally reveal a secret NHL script to have the Panthers eliminate Boston, which this year set the NHL record for best record (65-12-5)?
The answer, of course, is no: It was just a funny coincidence that added another degree of fun to what has already been an entertaining first round of the NHL playoffs.
