Joe Thornton fined for slash on Tyler Johnson

Per the NHL Department of Player Safety, Joe Thornton has been fined $5,000, the maximum amount allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for a slash on Tampa Bay Lightning forward, Tyler Johnson.

The incident occurred with only four seconds left in the second period of last night’s 5-2 loss in Tampa Bay. The Lightning started the third period on a power play as a result, and what had been a tied game at that point drastically changed in the final 20 minutes. A power play goal from Johnson himself shifted momentum, allowing the Lightning to secure a win.

The league is attempting to cut down the number of slashing incidents this year, penalizing stick-to-hand or stick-to-stick chops at a much higher rate. Though Thornton has never been fined for slashing, he has a pretty significant history with the play. Notably, he slashed Dave Bolland’s wrists before a face-off during the 2010 Western Conference Final series against the Chicago Blackhawks.