The NHL is investigating the conduct of several Ottawa Senators players during warmups before Game 3 of their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, with particular attention on forward Nick Cousins.
According to multiple insiders, Cousins may have intentionally fired a puck at Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz during the pregame skate on Thursday’s Game 3.
TSN’s Darren Dreger was the first to report the news on Friday morning.
“A twist in the Battle of Ontario with allegations of pregame shenanigans last night. Sources say the NHL is looking at an incident in warmup prior to Game 3 between the Leafs and Senators.”
Here’s what NHL is looking at from last night. “Friend of Bieksa” Nick Cousins shoots puck at Stolarz. NHL not crazy about pre-game stuff…also clamped down on funny Scheifele/Hofer standoff in Blues/Jets series pic.twitter.com/ZF08AZwdO4
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 25, 2025
TSN’s Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun followed up, pointing out the antics in question.
“At one point there were some pucks being lobbed by the #Sens in warmup,” Garrioch wrote. “I did see Stützle stop a lobbed puck near centre. Found it odd and didn’t think anything of it at the time.”
Source indicates this in the incident in question. Sens players firing pucks at Stolarz in warmup. https://t.co/c5JmFgKCrV
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) April 25, 2025
Dreger later confirmed the focus of the investigation, quoting Garrioch’s post.
“Source indicates this is the incident in question,” Dreger posted. “Sens players firing pucks at Stolarz in warmup.”
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman shared video evidence and added more context to the speculation started by Dreger.
“Here’s what NHL is looking at from last night,” Friedman wrote. “‘Friend of Bieksa’ Nick Cousins shoots puck at Stolarz. NHL not crazy about pre-game stuff… also clamped down on funny Scheifele/Hofer standoff in Blues/Jets series.”
While Stolarz didn’t reference the incident in his postgame comments, he acknowledged pre-game discussions with the officials while addressing the media in his post-game availability.
“I just kind of stay out of it,” Stolarz said. “I kind of talked to the refs a little bit there tonight and just said, ‘Just watch my back and I’ll behave.’”
The Maple Leafs won the game 3-2 in overtime, taking a 3-0 lead in the series. Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.
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