Max Domi offers few words about hit on Aleksander Barkov: ‘Just looking forward to the next game’

Sunday’s game was a chippy affair with plenty of hard hits and questionable ones that left both fanbases feeling irrate. Panthers defenceman Dmitry Kulikov elbowed Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner in the first period, but no penalty was called. Oliver Ekman-Larsson also laid a big hit on Evan Rodrigues in the second period that resulted in the latter suffering an injury.

One can expect that Florida will be seeking vengeance from Domi by playing him hard in Game 5. This was evident that there will be plenty more fireworks on Wednesday when the broadcast showed Matthew Tkachuk jawing at William Nylander on the bench after the game ended.

“I mean, obviously (Domi is) trying to take a run at Barky at the end there,” Panthers forward Sam Bennett said of Domi’s hit on Barkov on Sunday. “You know, the boys did a good job jumping in there and sticking up for Barky. Yeah, I mean, it’s been a physical series, so I expect more of that.”

While Domi may have moved on from the infraction, it is clear that he and the Leafs will be in for a physical and emotional Game 5. For Toronto to push the reigning Stanley Cup champions to the brink of elimination, they will need to give it their all and do their best to withstand the physical onslaught from Florida.

“In the end, I really liked our physicality and compete out there. The guys played hard. It is a tough series. They are a very good team. We know that, and it is a battle,” head coach Craig Berube said. “I thought most guys were engaged. They were going good. There are guys who can do more, for sure, and we are going to need more out of them. We will figure that out and handle that.”

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