With the intensity rising in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, the stakes are only getting higher as teams inch their way closer to round 3. Take the example of the series between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The pressure is on to see who will blink first with the series tied 2-2, but it’s not just Florida’s comeback from a 2-game deficit that’s making headlines. Rather, it’s the many dramatic moments, beginning with Sam Bennett’s hit on Anthony Stolarz to, most recently, Max Domi’s hit on Aleksander Barkov from behind. We’ve heard from Max Domi about his thoughts on the whole incident, and now Sasha Barkov has weighed in too with a tongue-in-cheek response.

The Panthers’ captain was sent crashing into the advertising boards, and for a second it looked like Barkov might have sustained some damage. Luckily for him and the Panthers, he got up immediately to join the ensuing melee and was doing fine after the game, while Domi was heavily criticized for his play. He also received a penalty in the game for boarding an unsuspecting Barkov. Now, just before the tie-breaking game 5, Barkov finally broke his silence on this matter. When asked about the hit, he said, “I didn’t see it (he said with a smile)…it’s playoff hockey, so things happen.”

A rather generous take on the whole matter, considering there was much uproar calling for Max Domi to be suspended, which he did ultimately avoid. Although it was a close call. NHL analyst Pierre LeBrun explained why Domi’s actions were sure to attract scrutiny from the NHL Player Safety Department.

He said, “If that were a first-period hit, it doesn’t get much attention other than a penalty. But end of the game, message-sending plays get NHL Player Safety attention. It’s an area of focus in the CBA; message sending plays at end of games. Player Safety is looking at it. But whether it’s a fine or more than that, hard to say.”

What he didn’t avoid, however, was a hefty $5,000 fine, the maximum allowable amount under the CBA. Following the whole incident and fine, Domi, like Barkov, was a man of brevity when asked about it. “Just looking forward to the next game,” was all he said. Meanwhile, the series between the Panthers and the Maple Leafs is nicely poised at 2-2 going into Game 5. Ahead of the next game, the Panthers’ coach, Paul Maurice, also made his thoughts clear on the Max Domi – Sasha Barkov incident.

Paul Maurice plays down the severity of the clash between Max Domi and Sasha Barkov

The Panthers’ coach had a close look at the incident, which took much of the spotlight away from their thrilling (and crucial) win. In what has been an aggressive series fueled by several eyebrow-raising incidents, Max Domi’s clash with Barkov was the latest among them. However, Maurice downplayed that incident and instead focused on the games to come.

He said, “I think the league looks at those things very closely, especially at that point of the game. That’s their job. I’ve got no thoughts. It’s not my job. We have other people to do that job. The hockey is the most important thing. We have had bigger dustups at the end of games, and I’ve seen them on TV, too. It’s not always our team. So, away we go.’’

With the series hanging in the balance, game 5 takes place later today. Barkov is expected to be fit for today’s clash, giving the Panthers a further boost to their chances of progression. It’ll be interesting to see if they can carry on the momentum from their 2-game winning streak in the upcoming games and make it through to the semifinals in their quest for back-to-back cup wins.