Marlies’ Clifford gets upset in handshake line after elimination from AHL playoffs

Leafs v Rangers

Tensions were high after the Belleville Senators eliminated the Toronto Marlies from the AHL playoffs on Sunday.

Marlies veteran Kyle Clifford went after Senators forward Boko Imama during the handshake line, forcing the officials to step in.

The two have a history from an earlier meeting in January that ended with both players suspended three games. In that January game, Imama speared Marlies goalie Dennis Hildeby as the teams were leaving the ice for the second intermission. Clifford went after Imama and the two fought, leading to the suspensions.

The Senators eliminated the Marlies with a 4-3 overtime win Sunday to take the best-of-three series 2-1. Belleville will now face Cleveland in the next round of the playoffs.