For the second time in these playoffs, a Leaf player has received supplemental discipline from the NHL Player Safety. This time, it is Sam Lafferty getting fined for a cross-check on Ross Colton.
Toronto’s Sam Lafferty has been fined $3,108.11, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for Cross-checking against Tampa Bay’s Ross Colton.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 23, 2023
The play in question occurred late in the second period when Lafferty engaged in a scrum with Colton in front of the Leafs’ net. On the box score, the penalty is listed as roughing and it’s easy to see why the Department of Player Safety decided to hand him a fine when looking at the footage.
not smart at any point
especially not smart after giving up a goal pic.twitter.com/DFcUXvZwqi
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 23, 2023
As mentioned earlier, Lafferty is not the first Leaf to get supplemental discipline from the DOPS in these playoffs as Michael Bunting has already been suspended three games for his hit on Erik Cernak in Game 1.
Lafferty should consider himself lucky that this cross-check was not only called a two-minute penalty but also only resulted in a fine as this play could have ended badly for Colton. Given that this occurred when the Leafs were playing badly in the second period and down a goal, the trajectory of this game could have been dramatically altered had the referees decided this was a major penalty instead.
With how intense and physical this series has been through the first three games, I would not be shocked if there are more times when the DOPS has to step in to hand out supplemental discipline for either of these teams. The series resumes tomorrow in Tampa Bay with puck drop for Game 4 scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Sportsnet.
