NHL fines Senators’ Nick Cousins after puck shot at Leafs’ goalie in warmup

The Battle of Ontario just got turned up a notch.

The NHL has fined Ottawa Senators forward Nick Cousins $2,083.33 for unsportsmanlike conduct ahead of Game 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Cousins was seen shooting a puck at Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz during warmup on Thursday night.

The fine is the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. No further discipline was announced.

According to The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, other members of the Senators may have been lobbying pucks during the pre-game.

Senators head coach Travis Green told Sportsnet’s Luke Fox that he spoke with Cousins about the incident but downplayed the severity of his actions, saying Cousins was trying to get Stolarz off his game and that “it happens more than you think.”

Cousins and Stolarz were teammates with the Florida Panthers and won the Stanley Cup together last season.

Greig, Stolarz getting chippy this series

Stolarz drew the Senators’ ire after a series of slashes against Ottawa forward Ridly Greig, which led to offsetting minors for both players in Game 2.

Greig crashed into Stolarz’s lower body on a rush in Game 1.

After Game 3, Stolarz said he’d made a pre-game deal with the officiating crew.

“Watch my back, and I’ll behave,” he said.

Greig is no stranger to the Battle of Ontario rivalry. In a 5-3 win over Toronto in 2023-24, he used a slapshot to score an empty-net goal, a play Maple Leafs’ defenceman Morgan Rielly took issue with and skated over and cross-checked Greig in the face.

Rielly was suspended for five games as a result.

The Maple Leafs earned their second straight 3-2 overtime victory in Game 3, pushing the Senators to the brink of elimination with a 3-0 series lead.

Game 4 goes Saturday at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.