Maple Leafs’ Craig Berube voices surprising argument to defend Max Domi’s last-second hit on Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov

The Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t leave Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise quietly. After being shut out by Sergei Bobrovsky and the Florida Panthers, Max Domi’s frustration boiled over into a reckless hit on Aleksander Barkov. The incident quickly sparked controversy across the NHL, with many calling for a suspension. However, head coach Craig Berube presented a starkly different point of view.

The Maple Leafs sense the pressure building up as they return home to Scotiabank Arena for an almost do-or-die Game 5 in their second round matchup with the Panthers.

Winning this upcoming battle is paramount for both sides, as they would shift momentum in their favor and put the opponent with its back against the wall. Domi’s hit on Barkov was more of a tone-setter ahead of Game 5 on Wednesday night than a hockey play to retrieve the puck in the dying seconds of Game 4.

After much noise surrounded the hit around the league, the NHL handed out an economic sanction for Domi, yet no suspension for the Leafs’ forward. The sentiment in Florida is that Toronto got away with a severe penalty, but Berube thinks otherwise, as he dropped a stern comment.

Head coach Craig Berube of the Toronto Maple Leafs addresses the media after the Leafs played against the Chicago Blackhawks in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 2, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Blackhawks 4-1.

“To me the Kulikov hit on Marner was 10 times worse,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said, shifting the focus to Dmitry Kulikov’s elbowing on Mitch Marner, which went unnoticed by the on-ice officials.

see also

NHL imposes hefty fine on Auston Matthews’ teammate after reckless hit on Aleksander Barkov during Panthers-Leafs Game 4

Berube pointed to Kulikov’s eyebrow-raising elbow that caught Marner in the head—not at full force, but with enough intent to warrant a call from the officials. However, officiating has been far from consistent in the series, with both teams repeatedly getting the short end of the stick in questionable decisions.

Ruling on Domi’s hit

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced Max Domi has been assessed a $5,000 fine, which is the maximum allowable under the CBA, for boarding Barkov in the last seconds of Game 4 between the Leafs and Cats.

As no suspension was issued, Domi will be available for Berube and the Maple Leafs in the upcoming showdown on May 14 when Toronto and Florida meet again at Scotiabank Arena, where the Maple Leafs are 4-1 this postseason.