Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi has been fined $5,000 by the NHL Department of Player Safety for a hit on Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov late in the third period of Game 4.
It’s the maximum allowable fine under the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement.
Domi sent Barkov into the boards as the clock ticked down, as the Panthers secured a 2-0 victory in Game 4 and a scrum ensued. Toronto’s winger was assessed a five-minute major for boarding as a result of the hit.
Here is the hit in question:
Domi with a MASSIVE hit on Barkov from behind and then all H-E-double hockey sticks broke loose at the buzzer 😳 pic.twitter.com/IHMYZdNEMv
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 12, 2025
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It was a chippy affair as Panthers defenceman Dmitry Kulikov elbowed Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner in the first period, but no penalty was called. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was asked about Domi’s hit on Barkov on Monday morning, and offered a concise summary. Neither Barkov or Marner suffered injuries as the result of the hits.
“To me, the Kulikov hit was 10 times worse,” Berube said via The Athletic’s Chris Johnston.
“I mean, obviously (Domi is) trying to take a run at Barky at the end there,” Panthers forward Sam Bennett said of Domi’s hit on Barkov on Sunday. “You know, the boys did a good job jumping in there and sticking up for Barky. Yeah, I mean, it’s been a physical series, so I expect more of that.”
Bennett elbowed Maple Leafs starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz in the head during Game 1, but wasn’t assessed a penalty, nor was he sanctioned by the Department of Player Safety. Stolarz is still recovering from his injury, as Joseph Woll has started the past three games for the Maple Leafs.
“I think the league looks at those things very closely, especially at that point in the game and that’s their job,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said post-game.
The series resumes Wednesday, where the Maple Leafs host the Panthers for Game 5, with the series tied at 2-2.