The NHL's Department of Player Safety has penalized Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson following a questionable hit against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Toronto Maple Leafs celebrated a big win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night but not everything went smoothly as defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson was hit today with a hefty fine from the NHL.
Toronto dominated the game even forcing Tampa Bay to pull goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy earning a crucial victory that improved their season record to 4-2-0. However, Ekman-Larsson now faces a $5,000 fine for a play involving Lightning's Jake Guentzel.
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The fine, the maximum allowed under the NHL's current CBA, was issued for interference rather than the hard hit Ekman-Larsson delivered. At first glance, it seemed like a game-changing play, but on review, it was clear Guentzel never touched the puck. As a result, the league penalized Ekman-Larsson for not giving Guentzel a fair chance to get to the puck.
While the NHL's Player Safety Department has faced criticism in the past, it's hard to argue with this call. Ekman-Larsson's interference was clear, and both a penalty and fine were expected.
Despite the fine, Maple Leafs fans have been impressed with Ekman-Larsson's physical play this season. His big hits have already made a difference, including in this game against a key rival like Tampa Bay.
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Although the $5,000 fine isn't ideal, it's unlikely to stop Ekman-Larsson from continuing to use his physical style to make an impact for the Leafs this season.
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