The Toronto Maple Leafs prepared for their upcoming meeting with the San Jose Sharks while navigating fallout from a physical game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Toronto shut out Tampa Bay 2-0 on Monday, but several scrums and penalties from that matchup carried over into postgame reviews and ultimately a one-game suspension.
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The sequence began early in the third period after defenseman Simon Benoit leveled Tampa Bay forward Jack Finley with a legal hit.
Gage Goncalves responded with a knee-on-knee collision involving Dakota Mermis, setting off a center-ice scrum that resulted in fighting majors for Dakota Joshua and Max Crozier. Goncalves received a match penalty for the kneeing infraction.
The NHL Department of Player Safety then reviewed forward Bobby McMann’s involvement in the altercation and announced on Tuesday evening that he has been suspended one game for high-sticking Lightning forward Oliver Bjorkstrand.
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The league ruled that McMann struck Bjorkstrand “with sufficient force to merit supplemental discipline,” emphasizing that he was “in full control” of his stick during the play and “must display more control” to avoid contact of that nature.
McMann already received a misconduct penalty at the time of the incident.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann (74) battles on the boards.Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
McMann, 29, has no prior supplemental discipline. He will forfeit $7,031.25 to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund and miss Toronto’s game Thursday against San Jose.
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The forward has eight goals and six assists in 29 games, averaging 14:19 of ice time and ranking seventh among Maple Leafs forwards in average playing time.
Toronto hosts San Jose on Thursday at Scotiabank Arena, with puck-drop set for 7 p.m. ET, before the Edmonton Oilers visit Toronto on Saturday.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the NHL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.