Lightning’s Jon Cooper, Brandon Hagel Call For NHL Official’s Firing After Wild Mistake Triggers Holmberg Injury |
Lightning’s Jon Cooper, Brandon Hagel Call For NHL Official’s Firing After Wild Mistake Triggers Holmberg Injury
(Photo by Joe Hrycych/Getty Images)
Yeeeaaahhh … somebody’s getting fired.
The circumstances surrounding the injury of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Pontus Holmberg is being looked into by the NHL. During Monday night’s game against the Buffalo Sabres, Holmberg hurt his left arm after crashing into a penalty box door that was unlatched, doing so shoulder-first.
The scene went down in the third period, with the Sabres ultimately getting the 4-2 victory.
Jon Cooper is calling for a penalty box attendant to lose his job after Pontus Holmberg was injured tonight when he fell into an open door 🤕😬 “I don’t know who is working the penalty box over there, but I don’t know if they should keep their job after what happened there.… pic.twitter.com/a6SvNMWp6p — Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 7, 2026
Jon Cooper is calling for a penalty box attendant to lose his job after Pontus Holmberg was injured tonight when he fell into an open door 🤕😬
“I don’t know who is working the penalty box over there, but I don’t know if they should keep their job after what happened there.… pic.twitter.com/a6SvNMWp6p
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 7, 2026
“I don’t know who’s working the penalty box over there, but I don’t know if they should keep their job after what happened there, like, leaving the door open,” said Cooper. “That could have hurt anybody on either team. Those are just dangerous situations, so a little frustrated on my part.”
Jon Cooper tonight on the Pontus Holmberg injury: “I don’t know who is working the penalty box over there, but I don’t know if they should keep their job after what happened there. Like, leaving the door open. That could have hurt anyone on either team. Those are just dangerous… pic.twitter.com/V3cwXlm2ni — Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) April 7, 2026
Jon Cooper tonight on the Pontus Holmberg injury:
“I don’t know who is working the penalty box over there, but I don’t know if they should keep their job after what happened there. Like, leaving the door open. That could have hurt anyone on either team. Those are just dangerous… pic.twitter.com/V3cwXlm2ni
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) April 7, 2026
Not returning to the game, Holmberg was seen afterwards with a sling on that was supporting his left arm.
“Not good,” said Cooper after being questioned regarding the status of Holmberg prior to ending the postgame press conference abruptly.
“Should be fired,” said Tampa Bay forward Brandon Hagel, who overheard a conversation about what went down, in the aftermath. (RELATED: Tennessee Women’s Basketball Now Has Zero Players On Roster After Everybody Leaves Team)
The injury to Holmberg took place after a seemingly clean open ice check from Sabres center Peyton Krebs. Losing his balance, Holmberg had an awkward fall and landed right into the penalty box door. Upon impact, the door pushed open, with the penalty box official eventually closing it.
The check on Holmberg took place at the exact time when the official was beginning to open the door to let out Buffalo left wing Zach Benson, who was in the penalty box as a result of a roughing minor.
The penalty on Benson came to an end with 7:20 remaining in the period. A few seconds later at 7:16, play stopped as Holmberg was lying on the ice in obvious pain.
SABRES WIN ⚔️#LetsGoBuffalo | @SenecaBuffalo pic.twitter.com/m09RP3xE5m — x – Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 7, 2026
SABRES WIN ⚔️#LetsGoBuffalo | @SenecaBuffalo pic.twitter.com/m09RP3xE5m
— x – Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 7, 2026
I’m not the one to call for somebody’s job, but with the pressure being put on that official, you can’t help but to think it’s inevitable.