Montreal Canadiens defenseman Michael Matheson fined for interference

Michael Matheson has been fined for his interference play on Eric Staal during the Thursday night game between the Canadiens and Florida Panthers. Eric Staal had to leave the game due to an injury sustained on the play.

The play occurred at the 18:14 mark of the first period during a Canadiens power play. The puck bounced into the Montreal end and Matheson was leading Staal in the race to get the puck. Out of nowhere, Matheson stops suddenly and hits an unsuspecting Staal in the upper part of his body. Staal immediately fell down from the hit.

The announcer noted on the Panthers broadcast that the hit should have been called a penalty but it wasn’t for whatever reason. The referees came under heavy fire Thursday evening and on Friday the NHL’s Department of Player Safety gave him a fine, but no suspension.

There was no call on the play during the game but Matheson has been fined $5,000 after the fact for the illegal hit. The money will be given to the NHLPA Player’s Assistance Fund. Matheson and Staal both had zero points and one shot on goal in the 6-2 Panthers victory.

Matheson is in the fifth year of the eight-year contract he signed with the Florida Panthers. He was traded from Florida to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Patric Hornqvist in the 2020 offseason. The Quebec native was traded again in the 2022 offseason to the Montreal Canadiens for Jeff Petry and Ryan Poehling.

In 12 games played this year, he has one goal and seven points. Eric Staal is in the 18th season of his career, playing for his sixth NHL team. In 40 games this year, he has seven goals and 14 points.

Incidentally, both of these players have played for the Canadiens and Panthers at some point in the last four seasons.