Subsequently, Bobby McMann received a match penalty for this slash on Oliver Bjorkstrand 😳
Gage Goncalves received a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for kneeing on Dakota Mermis
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Maple Leafs’ Bobby McMann to have hearing for high-sticking Lightning’s Oliver Bjorkstrand
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Dec 9, 2025, 10:05 ESTUpdated: Dec 9, 2025, 10:01 EST
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann will have a hearing with the NHL Player Safety for high-sticking Tampa Bay Lightning forward Oliver Bjorkstrand.
The incident occurred during the third period of Monday’s win, which started with Gage Goncalves being given a game misconduct for kneeing Dakota Mermis. Once Mermis was down on the ice in discomfort, a scrum ensued at centre ice with both teams going at it, as well as a fight between Dakota Joshua and Maxwell Crozier.
While the scrum was happening, McMann and Bjorkstrand were shoving each other pretty aggressively. Bjorkstrand landed the first blow with a cross-check that came dangerously close to McMann’s neck, to which McMann retaliated with a high-stick that grazed the side of Bjorkstrand’s head and shoulder. McMann was given a match penalty for the infraction, which explains why he is getting a hearing.
“That is a tough one. It really is,” head coach Craig Berube said to reporters after the game about the match penalty. “I gotta look at it more closely, which I didn’t. On our view on the bench, I couldn’t really see it too well. So I’ll take a look at it, but I had a tough time with that, to be honest with you.”
As part of receiving a match penalty, the NHL Rulebook under section 21.2 states that a player who is assessed a match penalty ‘shall be automatically suspended from further competition until the Commissioner has ruled on the issue.’ While the Leafs don’t play again until Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, there is a good chance they will be without McMann for that contest, depending on the hearing’s outcome.
It is worth noting that Goncalves, who received a major penalty and a game misconduct for the aforementioned kneeing of Mermis, has not yet received a hearing from the NHL Player Safety at the time of filing.
McMann has enjoyed success in recent weeks playing alongside Joshua and Nicolas Roy on the third line, with 14 points (eight goals and six assists) in 29 games played. He is in the second season of a two-year contract that carries a $1.35M AAV and will be a UFA in the offseason.
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