Things got heated between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins in their contest.
PITTSBURGH – In the closing minutes of the first period between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins, tempers started to flare. A few altercations and interactions broke out, and Penguins forward Michael Bunting was at the center of most of it.
While no penalties were called through the entire ordeal, Bunting got off with no infractions. The league, however, stepped in and handed out a fine to Boston Bruins defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.
The Bruins defenseman was fined by the NHL Department of Player Safety $2,734.38, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement, for unsportsmanlike conduct against Bunting.
According to the NHL’s release, the incident occurred at the 19:37 mark of the opening period. The league did not release a video of the incident or give further details on what exactly happened, but Bunting was the focus of a lot of heat from the Bruins.
As the second ticked off the clock in the first period, Bunting skated past Bruins netminder Linus Ullmark, making incidental contact. Ullmark fell to the ice, but no penalty was called.
As Bunting continued to skate to his bench, Shattenkirk stuck his stick out from his bench, connecting with Bunting. It was small contact, but when you're on the bench you cannot interact with the on-ice play.
That little poke earned Shattenkirk a fine from the Department of Player Safety.
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