Referee Kelly Sutherland was forced to exit Tuesday’s Game 1 between the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes due to injury.
The veteran official was hit in the arm with by the puck on a shoot-around by Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt. Moments later, he was also hit into the boards by Florida’s Anton Lundell, who spoke with Sutherland after the whistle sounded to stop play.
Sutherland remained in the game for the final 3:02 before the second intermission.
Garrett Rank, the game’s designated standby referee, suited up to replace Sutherland to begin the third period. This is Rank’s second time filling in; he stepped in for referee Chris Rooney after an injury in Game 7 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers.
The Athletic’s Michael Russo reports that Sutherland is not expected to miss any time:
Hearing x-rays came back negative on veteran referee Kelly Sutherland’s arm after being struck by puck and he was pulled in third period last night because the shot nailed him in a nerve. He’s good to go for rest of playoffs. Chris Rooney also recovering from being high-sticked…
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) May 21, 2025
Sutherland, 54, is in his 24th National Hockey League season. He currently leads all active officials with 251 playoff games worked, trailing only Bill McCreary (297), Don Koharski (266), and Kerry Fraser (254) on the all-time list. The Richmond, BC, native’s 10 trips to the Stanley Cup Final are also highest among active refs.
With a clean bill of health, expect the pairing of Sutherland and referee Eric Furlatt to head west to work the Western Conference Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars.
Officials for Tuesday’s Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final were refs Kelly Sutherland (#11) and Eric Furlatt (#27) – and, for the third period, Garrett Rank (#7) – with Matt MacPherson (#83) and Jonny Murray (#95) on lines.
