‘Reckless and dangerous’ – Max Domi’s buzzer hit sparks all-out NHL brawl between Maple Leafs and Panthers
A huge scrum broke out as tempers flared in the final moments of Sunday’s NHL playoff game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers. With the clock ticking down to zero on what was Toronto’s most ineffective performance of the series so far, Max Domi took the opportunity to send a message. Things got heated as time expired in a physical Game 4 between the Leafs and PanthersGetty He lined up Aleksander Barkov from behind just as the final buzzer was sounding on the 2-0 loss, and sent Florida’s captain flying into the boards from a vulnerable position. Domi’s actions summed up a night in which the Leafs, the No. 1 seed from the Atlantic, repeatedly lost their composure as they began to feel the heat of a physical series that is now tied 2-2. Former NHL star Eddie Olczyk, who was on the call for TNT, described the hit as ‘dangerous’ as the scrum unfolded. “I know the game is over, but that is as reckless and dangerous as you can get from that distance from the boards,” he said. The Panthers, of course, didn’t appreciate seeing Domi take a run at their captain, and jumped in to defend him. But there’s no expectation that incident to rise to anything more than a fine for the veteran Leafs forward. Fights, of course, are common place in ice hockey, with one earlier this year catching the eye of UFC star Sean Strickland. The latest hit, though, will likely remain on the minds of Barkov’s teammates as they head back to Toronto for Game 5 of the second-round series. “I mean, obviously (Domi is) trying to take a run at Barky at the end there,” Panthers forward Sam Bennett said post-game. “You know, the boys did a good job jumping in there and sticking up for Barky. “I mean, it’s been a physical series, so I expect more of that.” Domi’s buzzer hit sparked an all-out brawl between the Leafs and PanthersX: @Sportsnet The two teams scrummed for nearly two minutesX: @Sportsnet Panthers and Leafs players were eventually separated, but bad blood could spill over into Game 5X: @Sportsnet The benches also exchanged words as the brawl unfoldedX: @Sportsnet Plenty more was said as the Leafs and Panthers scrummed following the final buzzer of Game 4, too. According to The Athletic, Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk was seen sliding to the end of his team’s bench to tell Toronto’s William Nylander that he’ll be coming for him when they meet again on Wednesday night. Matthew Knies then jumped in, seemingly replying to Tkachuk: “How about me?’” An already a heated series saw the two teams combine for 87 hits in Game 4, and Domi’s late shot will only add to the tension in Toronto. Panthers coach Paul Maurice confirmed post-game that Barkov would ‘be alright,’ but he didn’t offer much more comment on the hit itself. “I think the league looks at those things very closely, especially at that point of the game,” he said. The series between the Leafs and Panthers has already proved physicalGetty Tempers could boil over again in Game 5 as the series returns to TorontoGetty View Tweet: https://t.co/4RQT6PVCxd “That’s their job.” Florida’s goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves for the Panthers as Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett scored to secure a 2-0 win against the Leafs on Sunday. The Panthers won both games at home to tie the best-of-seven series 2-2, with Game 5 taking place at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Wednesday.
A huge scrum broke out as tempers flared in the final moments of Sunday’s NHL playoff game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers.
With the clock ticking down to zero on what was Toronto’s most ineffective performance of the series so far, Max Domi took the opportunity to send a message.
He lined up Aleksander Barkov from behind just as the final buzzer was sounding on the 2-0 loss, and sent Florida’s captain flying into the boards from a vulnerable position.
Domi’s actions summed up a night in which the Leafs, the No. 1 seed from the Atlantic, repeatedly lost their composure as they began to feel the heat of a physical series that is now tied 2-2.
Former NHL star Eddie Olczyk, who was on the call for TNT, described the hit as ‘dangerous’ as the scrum unfolded.
“I know the game is over, but that is as reckless and dangerous as you can get from that distance from the boards,” he said.
The Panthers, of course, didn’t appreciate seeing Domi take a run at their captain, and jumped in to defend him.
But there’s no expectation that incident to rise to anything more than a fine for the veteran Leafs forward.
Fights, of course, are common place in ice hockey, with one earlier this year catching the eye of UFC star Sean Strickland.
The latest hit, though, will likely remain on the minds of Barkov’s teammates as they head back to Toronto for Game 5 of the second-round series.
“I mean, obviously (Domi is) trying to take a run at Barky at the end there,” Panthers forward Sam Bennett said post-game.
“You know, the boys did a good job jumping in there and sticking up for Barky.
“I mean, it’s been a physical series, so I expect more of that.”
Plenty more was said as the Leafs and Panthers scrummed following the final buzzer of Game 4, too.
According to The Athletic, Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk was seen sliding to the end of his team’s bench to tell Toronto’s William Nylander that he’ll be coming for him when they meet again on Wednesday night.
Matthew Knies then jumped in, seemingly replying to Tkachuk: “How about me?’”
An already a heated series saw the two teams combine for 87 hits in Game 4, and Domi’s late shot will only add to the tension in Toronto.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice confirmed post-game that Barkov would ‘be alright,’ but he didn’t offer much more comment on the hit itself.
“I think the league looks at those things very closely, especially at that point of the game,” he said.
“That’s their job.”
Florida’s goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves for the Panthers as Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett scored to secure a 2-0 win against the Leafs on Sunday.
The Panthers won both games at home to tie the best-of-seven series 2-2, with Game 5 taking place at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Wednesday.
