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The Florida Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-0 in Game 4 to even the second-round series but suffered a serious late scare involving team captain Aleksander Barkov.
Barkov, however, appears to have avoided serious injury following an end-of-game hit from Leafs forward Max Domi.
Domi drilled Barkov from behind into the boards with six seconds left, sparking a melee that included Panthers teammates Eetu Luostarinen and Aaron Ekblad jumping in to confront the Leafs forward.
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice didn’t hold back postgame. He made clear he expects the NHL to step in after the captain escaped further damage from Domi's hit while giving a cautious but optimistic initial update on Barkov.
“Yeah, I think he’ll be alright,” Maurice said.
Officials handed out four misconducts, but tensions continued into the final moments of the game and even after the final horn.
Maurice added that he expects the league to look at the hit closely, hinting at possible supplemental discipline being applied to Domi in terms of a suspension.
“I think that the league looks at those things,” Maurice said. “Especially at that point of the game, and they’ll do their job.”
The league’s decision could carry weight with the series now a best-of-three matchup, and especially given the backdrop of a similarly controversial incident earlier in the series.
Toronto goaltender Anthony Stolarz was knocked out of Game 1 after a high hit from Sam Bennett, but no discipline was issued.
Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) warms up against the Toronto Maple Leafs before game four at Amerant Bank Arena.Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Barkov’s status wasn't the only concern for Florida, as forward Evan Rodrigues also left Game 4 following a hit from Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Maurice couldn't offer a similarly clear update on Rodrigues after the game, waiting still for further evaluations coming Tuesday.
"He is going to need an evaluation tomorrow to understand," Maurice said.
Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Second Round between Toronto and Florida is set for puck-drop at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.
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Barkov, however, appears to have avoided serious injury following an end-of-game hit from Leafs forward Max Domi.
Domi drilled Barkov from behind into the boards with six seconds left, sparking a melee that included Panthers teammates Eetu Luostarinen and Aaron Ekblad jumping in to confront the Leafs forward.
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice didn’t hold back postgame. He made clear he expects the NHL to step in after the captain escaped further damage from Domi's hit while giving a cautious but optimistic initial update on Barkov.
“Yeah, I think he’ll be alright,” Maurice said.
Officials handed out four misconducts, but tensions continued into the final moments of the game and even after the final horn.
Maurice added that he expects the league to look at the hit closely, hinting at possible supplemental discipline being applied to Domi in terms of a suspension.
“I think that the league looks at those things,” Maurice said. “Especially at that point of the game, and they’ll do their job.”
The league’s decision could carry weight with the series now a best-of-three matchup, and especially given the backdrop of a similarly controversial incident earlier in the series.
Toronto goaltender Anthony Stolarz was knocked out of Game 1 after a high hit from Sam Bennett, but no discipline was issued.
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Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) warms up against the Toronto Maple Leafs before game four at Amerant Bank Arena.Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Barkov’s status wasn't the only concern for Florida, as forward Evan Rodrigues also left Game 4 following a hit from Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Maurice couldn't offer a similarly clear update on Rodrigues after the game, waiting still for further evaluations coming Tuesday.
"He is going to need an evaluation tomorrow to understand," Maurice said.
Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Second Round between Toronto and Florida is set for puck-drop at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.
Related: Wayne Gretzky's Daughter Paulina Turns Heads at Panthers vs. Maple Leafs With New Photos
Related: Maple Leafs Coach Addresses Auston Matthews' Goal Scoring Drought
Related: Maple Leafs Coach Addresses Auston Matthews' Goal Scoring Drought
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