Jacob Trouba’s wallet was a little lighter on Monday.
The NHL fined the Rangers captain $5,000 for elbowing the Panthers’ Evan Rodrigues during the Blueshirts’ Game 3 overtime win in the Eastern Conference Final on Sunday, the league announced.
The $5,000 is the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement.
Trouba elbowed Rodrigues high at 17:35 of the second period after slashing Sam Bennett, giving the Panthers a four-minute power play.
But it was the Rangers who lit the lamp during that stretch, with Barclay Goodrow scoring shorthanded to give the Blurshirts a 4-2 lead on his second goal of the game and sixth of the playoffs.
The play was controversial as some believed Trouba should’ve been assessed a major penalty for the hit.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice mocked the fine on Monday.
“Take the hat, pass it around. Poor lad. Poor Jake,” Maurice told reporters. “He won’t be able to eat.”
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The Panthers scored twice in the third to force overtime before Alex Wennberg won it for the Rangers with his first goal of the postseason, giving the Blueshirts a 2-1 series lead.
Trouba, who also committed a holding penalty in the third period, has 20 penalty minutes in 13 games this postseason.
Game 4 is Tuesday at 8 p.m.
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