The NHL announced supplemental discipline for two players and both the Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens after a minor confrontation during warmups of Game 4.
Dylan McIlrath and Arber Xhekaj were fined $2,018.23 and $3,385.42 respectively — the maximum allowable amount under the collective bargaining agreement — for “unsportsmanlike conduct” while the Capitals and Canadiens were fined $25,000 each.
Though the league did not elaborate on the exact reasons for the fines, McIlrath and Xhekaj were caught by a Sportsnet camera having a minor confrontation while skating with their two teams before puck drop.
Xhekaj, who exchanged words with Tom Wilson during warmups before Game 3, continued to try and irritate the Capitals ahead of Game 4. The Habs defenseman skated inches away from the center ice red line. His actions eventually got the attention of McIlrath, one of the Capitals’ enforcers, who stood on the red line itself. The two had words, but nothing more came of it.
McIlrath was ultimately a healthy scratch for Game 4 after warming up with the team while Xhekaj played in the game.
The chippy tone of the night continued into the game itself, which featured nine power plays between the two teams and a controversial hit from Tom Wilson on Alexandre Carrier. After Xhekaj argued with the Capitals’ bench late in the first period, an official held him back from cutting in front of the bench again at the start of intermission.
Monday’s announcement marks the second round of supplemental discipline in the series. Tom Wilson and Josh Anderson both earned fines on Saturday for their behavior in Game 3, which saw them brawl while on the Capitals’ bench.
The league also fined Ottawa Senators forward Nick Cousins for shooting a puck at Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz during warmups in an attempt to not let behavior spiral out of control before the actual games start.
Here’s the full press release from the NHL:
Canadiens, Capitals Fined
NEW YORK (April 28, 2025) – The National Hockey League announced today that it has fined the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals $25,000 each for unsportsmanlike conduct during warm-ups prior to Game 4 of their First Round series on Sunday, April 27. The fine money goes to the NHL Foundation.
Additionally, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety has fined Montreal’s Arber Xhekaj $3,385.42 and Washington’s Dylan McIlrath $2,018.23, both the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for unsportsmanlike conduct during Sunday’s warm-ups. The fine money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
