WATCH: John Tavares fined $5K for slashing Vincent Desharnais in Leafs 7-4 win against Oilers, NHL Twitter reacts

John Tavares’ slash on Vincent Desharnais results in NHL fining the Leafs' forward though the team coach supports Tavares’ retaliation.

<strong>WATCH: John Tavares fined $5K for slashing Vincent Desharnais in Leafs 7-4 win against Oilers, NHL Twitter reacts</strong>

John Tavares hit on Vincent Desharnais [Image Credit: YouTube]

Toronto Maple Leafs’ captain John Tavares gets penalized $5K from the National Hockey League after slashing Edmonton Oilers defenceman Vincent Desharnais. The NHL’s Department of Players Safety announced the decision on Sunday. The Leafs snatched their win 7-4 against Oilers on Saturday.

Leafs team coach Sheldon Keefe announced that he has no problem with players taking their own stance on the ice, especially in cases like this. In the video, it was prominent that the Oilers’ defenceman kept poking Tavares until the forward retaliated by slashing the opponent on his hand.

YouTube video

The NHL officials took steps as Desharnais seemed in pain after dropping his gloves and holding his hand. The incident occurred at 3.41, and Tavares was then assigned a minor penalty. Despite the penalty hanging on his head, the Leafs captain scored twice in the game. 

FS Video

Related: WATCH: Tyler Myers PLASTERS John Tavares on ice during Canucks vs Leafs 4-1 win

Leafs Coach Sheldon Keefe supports John Tavares’ decision on-ice

John Tavares [Image Credit: Sportsnet]
John Tavares [Image Credit: Sportsnet]

The whole fiasco started with John Tavares taking his position just behind the net. Oilers defenceman Vincent Desharnais who was right behind Tavares started pushing him when both of their sticks got stuck together.

As both players started fighting for their position near the net, Tavares hit the defenceman within seconds of getting free from their stick tangling. During a post-interview, reporters asked Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe what he thought of it, and if it was a similar case to William Nylander’s.

The coach replied, “You want to see guys be disciplined — especially in a game like that — and maintain their composure, and yet at times, emotions are high. On the top players, in particular, a lot of players take a lot of liberties, especially in tight games.” 

“It seems not much of it gets called. Sometimes players have to take it into their own hands in cases like that and stand up for themselves. For that reason, I have no problem with it. Just like William, I have no concerns about John’s ability to keep his composure at key times and not cross the line. To that end, we just press on with it.”

Nylander was offered a penalty just a few games back when the Leafs’ forward turned around from a check and slashed Blue Jackets defenceman, Nick Blankenburg. Though Keefe usually doesn’t like his players getting called out by NHL  officials, he praised Nylander for his retaliation as he barely does so in games.

https://twitter.com/symonesbitch/status/1634759563827113985

He proudly said, “When’s the last time you’ve seen William Nylander retaliate? I kinda liked it, to be honest”. “They want to take runs at him every now and again, he’s going to make the other team aware of it.” Nylander replied when asked of the slash, “I shot the puck and a couple of seconds later he tried to hit me so I just felt pissed off”. 

“I didn’t think he needed to hit me there.” This season it seems, Sheldon Keefe is supporting his players during their on-ice action. The Oilers and Leafs game was a heated one, satisfying fans who came into the arena. Going forward, the Leafs will carry a score of 40-17-8, while the Oilers recorded 36-23-8.

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