Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov was hit from behind by Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi in the final seconds of Sunday’s 2-0 win over Toronto in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference playoff series. The collision sent Barkov headfirst into the boards, prompting several smaller scuffles between the Atlantic Division rivals.
NHL Officials Review
The incident has drawn attention from NHL officials, who will assess whether supplemental discipline is warranted against Domi. Florida coach Paul Maurice stated, "I think that the league looks at those things very closely, especially at that point in the game." He also confirmed that Barkov was "alright" after the hit.
Series Status
Barkov and his teammates were not available for comment on Monday following a day off before they return to practice Tuesday ahead of Game 5 on Wednesday in Toronto. The series is now tied at 2-2 after Florida won back-to-back games on home ice before losing their last two away matches to Toronto.
Panthers’ Strong Playoff Performance
The Panthers have maintained a strong record this postseason due to their aggressive playmaking skills and talented lineup, led by top scorers like Jonathan Huberdeau and key contributors such as Sam Reinhart, Aaron Ekblad, and Radko Gudas.
Maurice noted, "We’ve got some guys who can make plays. We’ve got some guys who are good with it."
Tkachuk vs. Nylander
Matthew Tkachuk was seen chirping Maple Leafs forward William Nylander from his own bench, indicating he would be coming for him next game. However, Nylander remained unfazed, stating, "I don’t really pay attention to what other people say. I just focus on my own game."
Nylander scored twice against Florida earlier this season but hasn’t found much success against them since then, despite averaging more than a point per game overall this season while playing alongside Mitch Marner and John Tavares as part of one of hockey’s most potent lines.
Nylander’s Confidence
Nylander expressed confidence heading into Game 5, acknowledging the need to improve his performance to help lead his team past Florida in the playoffs. "I’m feeling good right now," he said. "But I know I need to step up my level if we want to win these games."
Rielly’s Injury Update
Toronto has been without injured defenseman Morgan Rielly since March due to injuries sustained when he crashed hard into a goalpost during warmups prior to an April loss at Buffalo. Rielly skated again Saturday morning ahead of Sunday’s loss but still wasn’t ready for contact, leaving his return date uncertain.
Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe wouldn’t commit Monday to whether Rielly would be ready for Wednesday night or beyond. "He had another skate today (Monday) so we’ll see how it goes tomorrow (Tuesday)," Keefe said during a Zoom call from Tampa.
Rookie Calle Viitala took Rielly’s spot alongside Mark Giordano again Sunday night, while Jordie Benn played alongside Giordano early before moving back onto the third pairing with Victor Mete late.
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