Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola has landed in hot water with the NHL after an intense moment in Sunday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens. On Monday, the league’s Department of Player Safety announced that Mikkola was fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct in an incident that escalated tensions between the two teams.<\/p>
With just seconds left on the clock in a 4-2 loss to Montreal, Mikkola found himself in possession of the puck deep in Florida’s defensive zone. Instead of a routine clear or simply letting the buzzer sound, he wound up for a powerful slapshot. He sent the puck hurtling down the ice, coming dangerously close to Canadiens defenseman David Savard, who was standing nearly 150 feet away. Understandably, Montreal’s players were furious, immediately confronting Mikkola as tempers flared. Officials had to step in, trying to separate both teams and usher them off the ice.<\/p>