TORONTO – As the stakes rise, injuries accumulate, and the intensity grows in this fiercely contested Toronto Maple Leafs–Florida Panthers series, veteran Scott Laughton`s insightful words come to mind.
It`s a natural human reaction to want retaliation, seeking an eye for an eye. People feel the urge to get in a final jab, a stick poke, or a hit from behind.
But what`s the best way to get back?
“Winning. That`s how you truly get them,” Laughton commented after Sam Bennett, seen by some as a villain, injured Toronto’s starting goalie, Anthony Stolarz, in a play that drew no penalty.
“Ultimately, it’s about winning and making them pay by beating them on the scoreboard.”
The figurative line defining acceptable conduct in this series is becoming increasingly blurred with each shift. The Panthers-Leafs matchup began with high energy and has evolved into the tightest (2-2) and arguably most contentious of the four second-round playoff series.
Following another physically demanding game on Monday morning, news emerged that Max Domi has been fined $5,000 (the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement) for a boarding penalty on Florida captain Aleksander Barkov just as the Panthers completed their 2-0 shutout victory.
Tristan Blackwood