The Toronto Maple Leafs had a rough night. Not only did they lose 5-3, but Auston Matthews left the game after a hit from Bruins’ Nikita Zadorov. Fans are now praising Max Domi for going after Zadorov following the hit.
The Boston Bruins and the Maple Leafs are currently on very different trajectories. The Bruins have won seven games in a row and currently sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs have lost three straight games, including two 5-3 defeats to the Bruins, and find themselves in 15th place in the Eastern Conference.
READ MORE: Auston Matthews called out by analyst: “Something is off”
Auston Matthews injured
Last night’s matchup didn’t just result in another loss for the Maple Leafs—it also saw goaltender Anthony Stolarz and captain Auston Matthews exit the game with injuries. Matthews left the ice with a lower-body injury after a hit from Bruins defender Nikita Zadorov. After the game, Leafs coach Craig Berube called the hit bad.
“I think it is a penalty, personally, but I am not the referee. I don’t like it. I don’t like the hit. He was in a vulnerable position,” Berube told NHL.com.
Nikita Zadorov’s response
Zadorov, on the other hand, insisted the hit was clean and declined to speculate on Matthews’ injury.
“I hit him with my right shoulder, and 99 percent of my hits in the NHL are with my right shoulder. I’m not sure what caused him to get hurt. Maybe it was when he came after me again and I counter-hit him, or perhaps when I cleared the puck I hit him with it. We’re not going to speculate on that,” Zadorov told NHL.com.
Max Domi praised
During the game, the Maple Leafs were clearly unhappy with Zadorov’s hit, and Max Domi went after him. Domi dropped his gloves, but Zadorov did not respond. Leafs fans are now praising the 5’10” Domi for standing up to the 6’7” Zadorov.
“Only one on the Leafs to stand up for their captain,” one fan wrote.
“He may not be playing his best, but you absolutely love to see that from Max,” wrote another.
You can watch it below.
READ MORE: Joe Thornton’s reaction to Auston Matthews wearing his jersey
