Senators head coach Travis Green hinted to reporters that the Maple Leafs were attempting to influence officials to draw penalties. Moments later, Toronto coach Craig Berube suggested that Ottawa players were deliberately bumping, sliding into, and falling on his goaltender.
Meanwhile, Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele and St. Louis Blues netminder Joel Hofer engaged in a repeated game of `chicken` at the conclusion of warm-ups, waiting to see who would be the last player off the ice.
The intensity and emotional stakes rise dramatically in the NHL playoffs. This heightened environment also sees a significant increase in gamesmanship – the classic `game within the game` that is a consistent feature at this time of year.
The 2025 post-season is no exception.
Whether on the ice, in media interactions, or behind the scenes, teams are actively seeking any available advantage in best-of-seven series, where the smallest details can tip the scales between advancing and an early summer.
“It`s always there, it`s always a part of it,” said Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly. “But I think it`s equally as important for guys to just remain focused on the game and not get caught up in that stuff.”
Maintaining that focus can certainly be challenging amidst the heated playoff action.
Coach Green expressed dissatisfaction with some calls against his team during a lopsided Game 1 loss in Toronto. Ottawa forward Ridly Greig was among the players who made contact with Toronto goalie Anthony Stolarz. Two nights later, the two clashed again in the Leafs` crease, culminating in Stolarz knocking down the Senators player, an incident that resulted in minor penalties for both.
Further potential provocations occurred before Game 3 when Senators center Nick Cousins, a former Stanley Cup teammate of Stolarz with the Florida Panthers, appeared to shoot pucks towards the Toronto goaltender during warm-ups. This incident was investigated.
The NHL subsequently issued fines Friday, penalizing the Senators $25,000 and Cousins $2,083.33, the maximum allowed for unsportsmanlike conduct. Senators head coach Travis Green later downplayed the incident with humor, calling it “the game within the game.” Maple Leafs players Morgan Rielly, Craig Berube, Brandon Carlo, and Max Domi also commented on the league`s investigation into the Cousins/Stolarz incident.
“There`s a fine line with how far you can go,” observed Jets forward Nino Niederreiter regarding playoff gamesmanship.
The series between Winnipeg and St. Louis started with psychological tactics during the first two warm-ups. Hofer not only stayed on the ice after the horn sounded (contrary to Scheifele`s superstition of being last off), but he also shot pucks down the ice while Scheifele`s back was turned.
“You`ve got to make sure you don`t lose yourself and are focused,” Niederreiter added. “That`s the most important thing… that you don`t get carried away.”
Meanwhile, the young roster of the Montreal Canadiens is navigating the playoff landscape and getting an education in these “dark arts.”
“You just feel how much is on the line,” said Montreal center Alex Newhook. “Guys are trying to do whatever they can to get an edge.”
Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins stressed the importance of finding a balance in the high-stakes playoff environment.
“You don`t want to take any penalties and put your team down for unnecessary plays,” he stated. “At the same time, you want to play these guys hard, whoever you`re playing against. It could be seven games, so the little things, they start to add up. You want to find ways to make it tough on the other team.”
“How aggressive you need to be in order to stay on that line,” explained Montreal defenseman Mike Matheson, describing the calculation required on the ice. “You`ve got to stay disciplined. Figuring out how to do that in high-pressure situations is important.”
Tristan Blackwood