The Buffalo Sabres had Game 4 well in hand, rolling past the Boston Bruins to take a 3-1 lead in their first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series, but a late incident involving Nikita Zadorov grabbed attention in the final minutes. After a whistle, Zadorov went after Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin, delivering a forceful cross-check before continuing the exchange.
Officials issued Zadorov a five-minute major for cross-checking along with a game misconduct, ending his night early. The NHL followed up Monday with a $5,000 fine, the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement. The penalty added to an already extensive record for Zadorov, who led the league in penalty minutes during the regular season while piling up multiple majors and misconducts.
The Sabres return home looking to close out the series when they host the Bruins in Game 5 on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].