Nikita Zadorov will pay for a cross-check on Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin on Sunday.
The Boston Bruins defenceman was fined $5,000, the maximum allowed under the CBA, for the play late in Game 4 of their series, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Monday.
Zadorov broke his stick on the cross-check near centre ice, which occurred with the Sabres leading 6-0. He was given a major and game misconduct.
The Sabres went on to win 6-1, taking a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“I understand the emotion of that because of the way the game went,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff told reporters afterward, per The Athletic. “You see that in playoff games. That type of raw emotion it’s because a player is so frustrated with the game. There’s lots of bantering back and forth inside the game. It’s not a play you want. I’m pretty sure if that’s the regular season that might even be a suspension. Could have easily broken Rasmus’ arm with the cross-check.”
Zadorov led the league with 152 penalty minutes in the regular season.
The Sabres host the Bruins in Game 5 on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT, Sportsnet, Sportsnet+).
