Nick Cousins, Senators Issued Fines For ‘Unsportsmanlike Conduct’ In Game 3 Warmups Against Maple Leafs

The NHL has officially handed out disciplinary fines following a pre-game incident in Game 3 of the Battle of Ontario first-round playoff series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators.

On Friday, the league fined Senators forward Nick Cousins $2,083.33 – the maximum allowable under the CBA – for “unsportsmanlike conduct” during warmups. The Ottawa Senators were also fined $25,000 for their role in the same incident, as reported by The Athletic’s Chris Johnston.

The fines come from a moment before Thursday’s Game 3 matchup in Ottawa when Cousins and members of the Senators sent pucks directed at Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz and into the Leafs’ side of the ice during warmups.

One of the key players involved, Cousins, previously won the Stanley Cup with Stolarz as members of the 2023-24 Florida Panthers. 

Ottawa head coach Travis Green downplayed the situation to the media on Friday, suggesting Cousins was likely just trying to get in Stolarz’s head to throw the netminder off his game.

“Nick Cousins and Stolarz have played together. I don’t know. Yeah, he’s probably trying to either laugh at him or make a joke or get him off his game, and it is what it is,” said Green. 

‘It’s An Active Investigation’: How Senators Players Are Reacting to the Maple Leafs Puck Warmup DramaKANATA, Ont. — Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green had some fun when asked about the NHL’s investigation over a pre-game incident involving his club firing pucks at Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz during warmup.

Reports of the NHL investigating the incident began surfacing Friday morning, including a video clip that appeared to show Cousins targeting Stolarz. Defenseman Thomas Chabot and forward David Perron both claimed to be unaware of the footage.

Despite the shenanigans, Stolarz wasn’t rattled. Instead, the 31-year-old earned his 11th consecutive win dating back to the end of the regular season, with a 1.53 goals-against average, a .944 save percentage, and three shutouts over that span.

Report: NHL Investigating Senators Firing Pucks At Maple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz In Game 3 WarmupsThe NHL is reportedly investigating an incident between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs that occurred before Game 3.

Backstopping the Leafs’ win, the club holds a 3-0 stranglehold on the best-of-seven series with Game 4 set to go on Saturday.

This situation hasn’t been treated with serious regard by the Senators, but the NHL appears to be clamping down on the antics.

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