Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green hinted to reporters that the Toronto Maple Leafs were attempting to influence officials to draw penalties. Just moments later, Toronto`s head coach Craig Berube speculated that Ottawa players had deliberately made contact with, slid into, and fallen onto his goaltender.
Elsewhere, during warm-ups, Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele and St. Louis Blues goalie Joel Hofer engaged in a standoff on two occasions, each waiting for the other to leave the ice last.
The intensity and emotional stakes rise significantly during the NHL playoffs. This heightened atmosphere also fuels gamesmanship – the persistent battle of wits and tactics alongside the main competition – which is prevalent at this stage. The 2025 post-season has proven to be no exception.
Teams are constantly seeking any possible advantage, whether on the ice, through media comments, or in private, during these best-of-seven series where minor details can be the deciding factor between advancing and being eliminated.
Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly commented, “It`s always present, it`s a constant element.” However, he added, “I believe it`s equally crucial for players to stay focused on the game itself and avoid getting distracted by those things.”
Remaining focused can certainly be difficult during intense moments.
Coach Green expressed dissatisfaction with several calls that went against his team during a lopsided Game 1 loss in Toronto. Concurrently, Ottawa forward Ridly Greig was among the players who had contact with Toronto goalie Anthony Stolarz. In the following game, they clashed again near the Leafs` net, resulting in Stolarz knocking down the Senators forward, a sequence that led to minor penalties for both.
Further potential tactics emerged before Game 3 when Senators center Nick Cousins, a former teammate of Stolarz with the Florida Panthers last June, seemingly shot pucks towards the Toronto goaltender during warm-ups. Consequently, the NHL issued fines on Friday, penalizing the Senators $25,000 and Cousins $2,083.33 (the maximum permitted amount) for unsportsmanlike behavior.
Regarding playoff gamesmanship, Jets forward Nino Niederreiter commented, “There`s a delicate balance regarding how far you can take things.” Niederreiter further emphasized, “You must ensure you don`t lose composure and maintain focus. That is the absolute priority… to avoid getting overly emotional.”
Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens have several young players on their team who are navigating the league and discovering the subtle, sometimes questionable, tactics employed in the post-season.
Montreal center Alex Newhook noted, “You can really sense the high stakes. Players are trying absolutely everything to gain an advantage.”
According to Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, finding equilibrium is essential under the intense scrutiny of playoff hockey.
He stated, “You definitely want to avoid taking penalties and putting your team at a disadvantage with needless actions. Simultaneously, you want to play physically against your opponent. In a potential seven-game series, minor actions accumulate. You aim to find methods to make things challenging for the opposing team.”
Montreal defenseman Mike Matheson described the required on-ice calculation: “It`s about knowing how aggressive you can be while remaining within the rules.” He concluded, “Discipline is vital. Learning how to achieve that in stressful situations is crucial.”
