Leafs' Max Domi fined for hit on Panthers' Barkov as harsh words and nasty deeds continue

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There’s a not-so-greatest hits soundtrack coming out of the increasingly nasty sessions between Toronto and Florida.

And likely plenty more playback — and payback — in the run-up to Game 5 at Scotiabank Arena. With the extra day off following Florida’s 2-0 win at home on Sunday to even the set 2-2, the rough cuts, both during play and after the whistle, are getting lots of airtime.

In the tradition of ‘sending a message’, the scuffling Leafs closed Game 4 by initiating a scrum. Max Domi slammed Panthers’ captain Aleksander Barkov from behind a couple of feet from the boards. Domi wound up with a five-minute boarding major, which the NHL’s department of player safety decided should warrant a $5,000 fine, the maximum under the CBA, rather than a suspension.

Already ticked at departing Sunrise without a win after being an overtime goal away from a 3-0 series lead, Domi and the other Leafs’ behaviour was fuelled in part by Dmitry Kulikov getting away with an earlier elbow on Mitch Marner. Given the Leafs were handed the game’s first four minor penalties — deservedly so — they saw that incident as an ideal make-up call.

Asked his thoughts on Domi’s tactics in nailing Barkov, who was not injured, coach Craig Berube told media in Florida on Monday “to me, the Kulikov hit was 10 times worse”.

Yet, of the rising temperature in the series, Berube opined “it’s normal. We expected it, we’re handling it. I thought we were the more physical team last night.”

Toronto has already lost goaltender Anthony Stolarz to a suspected concussion, possibly from a shot on the mask, perhaps exacerbated by an elbow to the head by Florida’s Sam Bennett. And the 106 hits dished out by the Panthers in their two wins at Amerant Bank Arena have added to Leaf frustrations.

But it’s on the Leafs to respond with goals, not rogue actions, or just to lament being unable to beat Sergei Bobrovsky since his eight overtime saves in Game 3.

While Florida coach Paul Maurice said Barkov was not injured, the picture wasn’t clear Monday on winger Evan Rodrigues, who took a second heavy hit from behind by a Leaf in the series, a mis-timed high check by Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who served a minor.

Going after Barkov certainly got the Panthers’ attention with antagonistic Matthew Tkachuk gesturing at the Toronto bench and winger William Nylander. Toronto’s Bobby McMann received a 10-minute misconduct, as did wrestling partner Brad Marchand and Florida teammate Aaron Ekblad.

“(Domi was) trying to take a run at Barky,” Bennett said. “The boys did a good job sticking up for him. It’s a physical series and I expect more of that.”

Nylander shrugged off whatever Tkachuk was goading him about, while Matthew Knies was also jawing with Tkachuk.

“He’s just talking, that’s what he does,” Nylander said. “He’ll do whatever he can to get a player off his game. The next one will be a fun one.

“It’s 2-2, it’ll be a long series. That’s where our mind is at.”

For his part, Maurice said Monday of Game 4’s conclusion “we’ve had bigger dust-ups” and recalled his club’s last two series against Boston set the bar for intensity and heavy contact.

lhornby@postmedia.com

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