NHL Hands Down Punishment to Ottawa Senators Organization and Nick Cousins

There was a lot of tension and intensity between the Maple Leafs and Senators on Thursday night, and while Toronto came out with the win, it wasn't without some pre-game controversy.

After Nick Cousins fired a puck towards Anthony Stolarz during warmups, the NHL decided to look into the matter and determine whether punishment was necessary.

Well, they certainly believe it did, as the league handed out a fine to both Cousins and the Senators organization.

Cousins received a total fine of $2,083.33 which is the maximum allowable fine to someone who garners an unsportsmanlike infraction, and the Senators themselves being dinged for $25K is more or less a small price to pay in their minds for trying to get into Stolarz's head.

Perhaps Cousins was a bit flustered still from earlier in the season after he unsuccessfully tried a knee on knee hit on Maple Leafs rookie Jacob Quillan. But he's also a season removed from winning a Cup WITH Stolarz, so it's a bit bizarre as to why he would do something so careless, even if it may have been in jest.

He hasn't factored in much this series, having registered zero points and six hits in only 9:34 TOI.

It's a surprise that head coach Travis Green didn't get dinged as well, considering how much complaining and accusing he's done over the last three games. Maybe he should spend less time worrying about Toronto's success and more about his team's lack of firepower

So while it makes the slightest dent in Cousins' wallet, it probably won't deter him from trying this stuff again. However, he's more than likely only got one more game left to try his next underhanded tactic.