Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola has been penalized for his actions on the ice.
Mikkola was fined $5,000 by the league for unsportsmanlike conduct during a game against the Montreal Canadiens. This is the maximum fine allowed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The incident occurred at the end of Sunday`s game, which Montreal won 4-2. After the final buzzer, Mikkola shot the puck towards the Canadiens` net from his own zone, and it nearly hit Montreal defenseman David Savard.
The Montreal Canadiens players reacted strongly to this, and a scrum ensued. Niko Mikkola was the only player to receive additional punishment from the league as a result of this post-game altercation.
The Panthers and Canadiens are scheduled to play again on Tuesday.
Tristan Blackwood