Apr 22, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi (11) prepares to take a faceoff against the Ottawa Senators in the first period in game two of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
It took the Ottawa Senators one minute and four seconds to score on the first power play of Game 4 on Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"It’s not a good penalty, he knows that," Berube said in a Zoom availability Sunday. "His emotions got a little too high and involved, and that’s one of the penalties that he knows he can’t take and our team doesn’t want to take."
The 30-year-old admitted Monday, one day ahead of a crucial Game 5, that it was "unfortunate" that he took the penalty, and that he'll be better moving forward.
"You're getting into a battle like that, sometimes it's just a little bit of a reaction to kind of throw that. You don't want to hit the guy in the face. I certainly didn't mean to do that," said Domi.
"It's one of those things where you've got to be aware of your stick. It doesn't matter if it's a situation like that, a trip, or a forecheck, wherever it might be. The refs have got to do their job. They've got to call that, and I respect that. It's on us to be better, and certainly myself included, and we'll be better for sure."
Domi has one goal in the series against the Senators, which came in overtime of Game 2. Simon Benoit intercepted the puck in the defensive zone and jumped up before finding Domi.
It was the forward's first goal since Mar. 30 against the Anaheim Ducks.
"Not sure if it was Cousins or who it was, but was lucky to get inside the hash marks like that ot wherever in the middle of the ice, you just have to shoot it," Domi said after the overtime winner on Tuesday. "(Linus) Ullmark's a heck of a goalie, but we'll take it."
Toronto returned to practice on Monday after having a day of rest. The Maple Leafs' lineup didn't change, with Domi centering Bobby McMann and Max Pacioretty on the third line.
Game 5 goes down on Tuesday night inside Scotiabank Arena.
"You've got two desperate teams. Every game you're playing with a lot of desperation. When you have a team fighting for their lives, you're not getting a more desperate team than that," Domi said of the Senators.
"They're a heck of a hockey club. We all know that, taking us to overtime most of these games. They're playing real good hockey, really well coached. We know that, and I'm just going to be ready to play tomorrow."
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