Michael Matheson picked up two assists in the Canadiens' 4-2 win over Ottawa last night, but a late extra in a scrum is what has people talking this morning.
The sequence came in a pileup at the side of the Canadiens net, with a referee's arm already in the air.
Matt Drake flagged it right away, writing that it "miiiight cost Matheson a few bucks. Or none. Who knows anymore."
He finished the night with a minor penalty, so the officials clearly saw something.
The rest of his line was strong. He logged 26:02, put four shots on goal and finished plus-3.
Only Noah Dobson saw more ice among Montreal defensemen.
So does the league actually step in on a preseason scrum?
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Ugly Mike Matheson gesture sparks possible NHL disciplinary review
Nobody seems sure anymore, and that's the real problem.
The NHL's inconsistency is the story here. Drake's "who knows" line lands because fans genuinely can't predict what gets a fine and what gets a shrug.
League discipline works like a speed trap on a highway with no posted limit. Everybody slows down near the cops, but nobody knows the actual number.
It was a heated night all around. Adam Nemec left in the first period after a check from Florian Xhekaj that drew an interference call.
Tyler Thorpe and Djibril Touré also dropped the gloves, and both finished with seven penalty minutes.
The Canadiens also took minors from Josh Anderson, Jake Evans, Chris Kreider and Alex Newhook on top of that.
In goal, Samuel Montembeault stopped all 14 shots in his half of the night, and Jacob Fowler made 16 saves on 18 in the other.
Juraj Slafkovsky scored the winner and added two assists. Noah Dobson chipped in a power-play goal and an assist.
The Canadiens finished the preseason at 4-1-0 after splitting Saturday's two games with Ottawa.
Martin St-Louis's group opens the regular season Tuesday in Toronto.
If a fine comes, it won't change much on the ice. The bigger question is whether Montreal's edge carries into Tuesday, when every minor penalty suddenly costs something real.
Should the NHL fine Michael Matheson for his late extra in a preseason scrum?
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