Throughout the game, things were getting heated, especially when the game was out of reach for the Maple Leafs. The Atlantic Division rivals have had their intense games before, but nothing like this game in the recent past. As tempers flared, misconducts and penalties were given out for a total of 114 penalty minutes.
One play, in particular, is under the microscope from last night's wild game. It was between all-stars Nikita Kucherov of the Lightning and Mitch Marner of the Maple Leafs. Watch the video here:
On a somewhat failed bodycheck on Marner, Kucherov appears to get spun around and lose his balance, and his skate blade makes contact with the back of Marner's leg.
Obviously, a scary incident as Marner could have been cut, but he seemed to be okay after going to the bench and making sure. Leaf's fans on Twitter, and even Marner himself, seem to think that the play was malicious and intentional, and it really is hard to say.
It's very easy to lose your balance playing at a face pace on the ice but these are professionals too. In my opinion, I don't think Kucherov would intentionally do something like this to another player (well I hope), but I've been wrong about things like this before.
