Less than a week ago, I wrote that two former Montreal Canadiens players had led the Toronto Maple Leafs in a big win against the Florida Panthers. Max Pacioretty and Max Domi played essential roles that night, notching a goal and an assist each.
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On Sunday night, however, as the Leafs were blanked 2-0 by the Cats, Toronto’s players were frustrated, which is normal. Nobody wants to be shut out, even less so when only managing 23 shots on goal.
Tempers can run high in the playoffs, but that’s no justification for Domi’s hit on Florida captain Aleksander Barkov. The pivot faced the boards with the seconds trickling down on game four. There was nothing left to play for when the Leafs’ second-generation pest spotted him from far away and ran him from behind.
Barkov was propelled into the boards, head first, and understandably stayed down. Domi was assessed a five-minute major for boarding, but the game had already ended. There was no rhyme or reason to that hit at that stage of the game.
To those who will use the tried-and-tested line of “he was sending them a message for the next game,” I will reply that the only thing he did with this dangerous hit was to give the Panthers a big injection of motivation, as if they needed it.
On Florida’s bench, Matthew Tkachuk was talking with the Toronto bench, and with the wink he made, you know he’s put them on notice that there will be payback in game five.
Another look at the absolutely DIRTY hit from Max Domi on Sasha Barkov as time expires
Absolutely dirty. No respect for the Florida Panthers captain.
How many games suspension will Domi get for this hit? pic.twitter.com/AhFa5xzy55
— Adam (@AGBRSports) May 12, 2025
The Leafs are a very talented team, but their big guns will always come second when it’s time to play a physical game. Targeting the Panthers’ captain that way was a dangerous hit and a grave tactical error by the former Hab.
Regardless of whether the Department of Player Safety decides to examine the play and issue further discipline on Domi, he has put his team in a precarious position. He’s not the one who will be headhunted; Toronto’s top players will be. While the Leafs have a few big guns, one being injured wouldn’t do them any good as they finally try to win a second-round series.
It’s a shame that Domi needs to make that kind of play; he’s a very good hockey player when he puts his mind to it. In the 153 games he played with the Canadiens, he scored 116 points, including a fantastic first season that yielded 72 points and 24 even-strength goals. That season wasn’t a fluke. The talent is there, but he needs to stop getting in his way.
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