Mikhail Sergachev fined for roughing Conor Garland

The NHL announced Friday that Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Mikhail Sergachev has been fined the maximum amount for roughing Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland. He is liable to pay $5,000 towards the NHLPA Player’s Emergency Assistance Fund.

This is the second fine handed out by NHL Player Safety today, earlier Clayton Keller was fined for cross-checking Ottawa Senators defenceman Erik Brannstrom. This is the first infraction of the season for both of these players.

The Sergachev incident occurred at 19:19 of the third-period of the Thursday night game between the Vancouver Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning. Garland scored a goal and recorded three shots on goal that game. Sergachev notched an assist and two shots in the Lightning’s 5-4 victory over the Canucks.

Mikhail Sergachev is in the final season of his contract, but already signed an eight-year deal with his team prior to the season. He has six goals and 30 points in 38 games this year, on track for 64 points which would set a new career-high for him.

His new contract will earn him $8,500,000 per season for the next eight years, $68 million in total. The 24-year-old defenceman is the presumed heir to Victor Hedman once age gets a hold of the 31-year-old veteran blueliner.

The Lightning are having a successful regular season with a record of 26-13-1 and they hope to make the playoffs for the sixth straight year. According to MoneyPuck.com, the Lightning are fifth in the NHL with an 8.3% chance of winning the Stanley Cup this year. It would be the fourth championship in their history and the third in the last four years. If they make it to the finals this year, it will be four straight in that regard.

Conor Garland has eight goals and 21 points this year in 40 games for the Vancouver Canucks, and was not injured on the roughing play.