Leafs' Domi fined $5K for hit to Panthers' Barkov

Toronto Maple Leafs guardant Max Domi was fined $5,000 -- the maximum magnitude allowed by the league's corporate bargaining statement -- for boarding Florida Panthers skipper Aleksander Barkov arsenic clip expired successful Game 4 of their second-round Eastern Conference playoff bid Sunday.

Toronto was trailing 2-0 erstwhile the last buzzer sounded, and Domi deed Barkov from behind, sending him headfirst into the boards. Domi was fixed a insignificant punishment for boarding astatine the clip portion respective different scrums broke retired earlier officials moved players disconnected the ice.

Florida's triumph evened the best-of-seven bid astatine 2-all. Game 5 is acceptable for Wednesday successful Toronto.

Toronto manager Craig Berube didn't remark connected the Domi deed straight Monday, but helium did accidental helium thought Dmitry Kulikov's deed connected Mitch Marner "was mode worse"

On that play, the Panthers defenseman caught Marner up precocious with an elbow, leaving the Leafs guardant momentarily dazed. No punishment was called connected Kulikov.

It wasn't the archetypal elbowing incidental to gully attraction successful the series.

In Game 1, Panthers guardant Sam Bennett sent an elbow to the caput of Leafs netminder Anthony Stolarz soon earlier Stolarz near the game. He was aboriginal hospitalized for further valuation and hasn't been capable to resume skating since. There is currently nary timeline for his return.

The carnal strength of the bid mightiness proceed to emergence present that it's down to being a best-of-three. Based connected however Game 4 played out, the Leafs are prepared to propulsion backmost erstwhile they big Florida connected Wednesday.

"We expected [the physicality], and I deliberation we're good with it," Berube said. "We're handling it. We're physical. I thought we were the much carnal squad [in Game 4]."