Nick Cousins (© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/2e18e7eb-1961-446e-8345-aee919578d5f.jpeg] Nick Cousins (© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) The Montreal Canadiens [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens] faced off against the Ottawa Senators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators] on Sep. 30 in a preseason contest. While it may have been a preseason game, there is no question that tempers flared during this matchup in Quebec City, as there was plenty of fightning and nastiness. The Canadiens and Senators recorded a combined total of 150 penalty minutes. Now, the grittiness of this game has resulted in two Senators players receiving discipline for their actions against the Canadiens. NHL Player Safety has announced that Senators forward Nick Cousins has been fined $2,148.44 [https://x.com/NHLPlayerSafety/status/1973443027453747438] for slashing, while Ottawa forward Hayden Hodgson was given a $2,018.23 fine [https://x.com/NHLPlayerSafety/status/1973442980070695358] for boarding. Both of these fines are the maximum allowable under the current CBA. Cousins' slash occurred with 12:38 left in the third period. After Canadiens rookie Ivan Demidov attempted to make a pass in the offensive zone, Cousins landed a blatant slash on Montreal's young star. Demidov left the game following the slash. As for Hodgson, his fine is due to boarding Canadiens forward Alex Newhook during the second period. Following the announcement of the fines, the Senators announced that they recalled Tyler Boucher, Hunter Shepard, Jorian Donovan, Oskar Petersson, Xavier Bourgault, Tomas Hamara, Keetan Washkurak, and Scott Harrington from the Belleville Senators. The Canadiens and Senators are set to play each other again on Oct. 4 in another preseason matchup.
