'He Crossed The Line There': Maple Leafs' Sheldon Keefe Calls Out Max Domi's 'Undisciplined' Penalty in Game 1 Loss to Bruins

BOSTON — Max Domi tried to send a message. But it appears to have backfired.

Just before the puck dropped on Game 1 of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins, Domi was already hacking away at Bruins pest Brad Marchand at the faceoff circle. Officials had to step in and settle Domi down before the game could start.

In the end, it was Marchand who got the last laugh.

With the Leafs down 3-0 in the second period, Domi slashed Marchand right off the neutral zone draw, leading to another power play Boston that they’d cash in on and put the game away for good.

It wasn’t the only issue the Leafs had in their 5-1 loss to the Bruins in Game 1. Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe called most of his team’s five minor penalties “careless”, but specifically called out Domi’s minor as “undisciplined”.

“I understand what he’s trying to do, but he crossed the line there, and can’t do that,” Keefe said of Domi. “The others are just, you know, the two high sticks, that’s just carelessness. This time of year, you just have to dial it in. You can’t allow your stick to get up like that.”

At the end of the game, Domi continued to make his presence felt by trying to take the game puck on the final horn. The officials had to intervene.

Penalties weren’t the only reason the Maple Leafs dropped Game 1, but giving up two power-play goals to Boston certainly caved them in.

“I mean I think it’s just all about the mindset and keeping our composure and finding that you know fine line of obviously competing you know and sticking up for one another but not crossing that line where you know we’re the ones that are getting taken to the box,” Auston Matthews said.

Matthews and Bertuzzi each took high-sticking penalties.

The Leafs had chances on the power play, including a 4-on-3 opportunity to begin the second period but weren’t able to generate much at Boston’s net.

Signed to a one-year, $3 million contract this summer, Domi has brought and edge to his game while complimenting Matthews as a solid playmaker. Certainly with the playoff intensity cranked up and having grown up watching his dad, Tie, play in the Toronto market, you can’t blame the player for being amped up. Especially given Marchand’s history of being a thorn in the Leafs’ side.

It was Nov 2 of this past season when Marchand tripped Liljegren in the board and Toronto was criticized for a lack of response.

The Leafs may have went over the line. Toronto allowed the first goal of the game when Ryan Reaves went in for a hit on Bruins forward Pat Maroon. With a Toronto teammate already there, it led to a 2-on-1 chance for Boston and John Beecher made good on it.

It was Boston’s first shot on goal of the game after Toronto dominated the pace of play in the early going.

The Leafs will regroup on Sunday before meeting the Bruins again for Game 2 on Monday.

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