"Now do Hathaway for kneeing McCabe" "What a joke" - NHL fans react as Max Domi picks up $5K fine for elbowing Flyers' Garnet Hathaway

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi received a $5,000 fine for elbowing Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway in the head on Sunday. The incident occurred during the third period of Toronto’s 3-2 overtime win.

Domi also received a penalty for his action. The announcement from NHL Player Safety drew a flurry of reactions on social media.

Maple Leafs’ supporters felt their players were harshly punished.

"Cool now do Hathaway for kneeing McCabe," a fan tweeted.

"It’ll never happen. NHL loves that McCabe got hurt. League can’t stand the Leafs," another fan said.

"What about Hathaway for kneeing McCabe in the back of the head?" one fan wrote.

"What a joke. Domi did nothing wrong," a fan said.

Some defended Hathaway and the Flyers. They criticized Domi and the Maple Leafs for their aggression.

"he didn’t do anything right," a fan tweeted.

"Wish he got 5 games. Domi is awful," another user commented.

"In this thread, a bunch of crying Leaf fans," one fan wrote.

"He didn’t knee him on purpose. Cmon," another fan said.

The contentious issue was reignited after Domi's fine was announced. He had also been fined for unsportsmanlike conduct in November 2021 while he was with the Columbus Blue Jackets and NHL Player Safety fined him in May 2023 for slashing Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone.

Did Max Domi want revenge for Jake McCabe?

Earlier in the game, Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe got injured during a brawl with Garnet Hathaway. They fell on the ice during the fight, resulting in McCabe leaving the game for treatment. He did not return and Toronto announced that he had suffered an upper-body injury.

McCabe, who received a roughing penalty for dropping his gloves, allegedly attacked Hathaway because he collided with Maple Leafs goalie Dennis Hildeby. Toronto fans were angry about what they saw as unfair treatment to their team, but others on social media believed that McCabe's injury was his fault.

"Cry more. McCabe got what he asked for," a fan tweeted.

In the postgame interview, Toronto coach Craig Berube said that they would have to wait until Monday to evaluate McCabe's fitness.

Despite the penalties against their players, the Toronto Maple Leafs eked out a 3-2 win. Morgan Rielly scored at 2:25 in ovetime to give the Leafs their fourth straight win.