Things got heated late in Game 4 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers—and Max Domi is now paying the price.
The NHL announced Monday that Domi has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowed under the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, for boarding Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in the dying seconds of Sunday’s game.
The Hit That Sparked Chaos
With just 8 seconds left on the clock in Florida’s 2–0 win, Domi delivered a hit from behind that sent Barkov crashing into the boards. The play immediately sparked a wild scrum involving nearly every skater on the ice. Domi was assessed a five-minute major for boarding.
Fortunately, Barkov was not hurt. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice confirmed after the game that his captain was “fine.”
Emotions Boil Over
It wasn’t just Domi who got penalized. Toronto’s Bobby McMann, Florida’s Aaron Ekblad, and veteran forward Brad Marchand—on his 37th birthday, no less—all received 10-minute misconducts for their roles in the post-hit melee.
Florida center Sam Bennett brushed it off, saying the physicality was expected:
“It’s been a physical series, so I expect more of that.”
Leafs Coach Fires Back
Toronto coach Craig Berube didn’t have much to say about Domi’s hit—but he did take a swipe at an earlier incident.
Berube pointed to a hit by Florida’s Dmitry Kulikov on Mitch Marner, saying:
“To me, the Kulikov hit on Marner was 10 times worse.”
That play, which involved what looked like an elbow to Marner’s head, went unpenalized and stirred frustration on the Leafs bench.
Looking Ahead: Game 5 Showdown
With the series tied 2–2, the rivalry is only getting hotter. The action resumes Wednesday night in Toronto for a pivotal Game 5. Expect big hits, big emotions—and possibly even more discipline from the league.
Domi’s fine will go to the NHL Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund, which supports players in need.
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