New York Islanders star centre Mathew Barzal has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable amount, for cross-checking Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Jan Rutta.
The incident occurred at the end of the second period of Tampa's 8-0 blowout win in Game 5. As Barzal and Rutta were skating near the benches, they got tangled up. The scrum ended with Barzal knocking Rutta to the ice with a cross-check to the head before players from both teams got involved.
Barzal was given a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct for the play. Rutta did not return to the game and head coach Jon Cooper did not have an update on his status afterwards.
The Lightning have a chance to eliminate the Islanders and return to the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday in Game 6 in New York. Coverage on Sportsnet and SN Now begins at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT.
