OTTAWA — The National Hockey League is digging into a pre-game dust-up involving the Ottawa Senators, accused of lobbing pucks toward Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz before Game 3 of their playoff clash on April 24. The incident, which has the hockey world buzzing, centers on Senators forward Nick Cousins, who allegedly fired a puck at Stolarz during warmups at Canadian Tire Centre. The league’s not laughing—this could mean a fine for Ottawa.
Video evidence shows Cousins, a former teammate of Stolarz from their Stanley Cup-winning days with the Florida Panthers last season, taking a shot that zipped toward the Leafs’ netminder as he stretched near the penalty box. Other Senators players reportedly joined in, sending pucks across the center line into Toronto’s end. The NHL, always twitchy about warmup antics escalating, especially in a heated playoff series like this Battle of Ontario, launched an investigation on April 25. No word yet on whether discipline will follow, but the league’s keeping a tight lid on details.
This isn’t the first time Stolarz has been in the Senators’ crosshairs. In Game 1, Ottawa’s Ridly Greig crashed into the goalie, sparking a feud that carried into Game 2, where Stolarz dished out stick chops and a shoulder check to Greig, earning both players penalties. After Game 3, Stolarz told reporters he’d struck a deal with the refs to keep things civil, saying he’d “behave” if they watched his back. The 6-foot-6 netminder, unflappable in net with a .926 save percentage through three games, brushed off the warmup incident, focusing instead on Toronto’s 3-2 overtime win that night, which gave the Leafs a commanding 3-0 series lead.
The Senators, staring down elimination in Game 4 on April 26, haven’t commented officially. Coach Travis Green dodged questions with a smirk, calling it an “active investigation.” Cousins, known for his agitating style, hasn’t spoken publicly. The NHL’s probe hinges on whether this was a deliberate attempt to rattle Stolarz, who’s been a brick wall for Toronto, allowing just 15 goals in his last 10 starts. For now, the league’s sifting through video and witness accounts to decide if Ottawa crossed the line.
Toronto leads the best-of-seven series 3-0. Game 4 is set for Saturday at 7 p.m. at Canadian Tire Centre.