Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk has been fined $5,000 for cross-checking Boston’s Garnet Hathaway.
Tkachuk delivered the cross-check after the final buzzer of the opening period in Sunday’s game between the Panthers and the Boston Bruins. He was assessed a minor penalty for cr0ss-checking by referees T.J. Luxmore and Dan O’Rourke.
Tkachuk’s fine is the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement without a formal hearing. His fine is the second of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, after Toronto’s Sam Lafferty picked up a fine against the Lightning on Sunday.
This is also the third disciplinary strike of the postseason by Player Safety. Toronto’s Michael Bunting was suspended three games for interference and an illegal check to the head.
Bunting lost no money as a result of his ban; Lafferty and Tkachuk, though, have to whip out their wallets.
