Devils' Johnathan Kovacevic handed maximum fine for cross-checking Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk

New Jersey Devils defencemen Johnathan Kovacevic was fined $1,996.53, the maximum allowed under the NHL’s CBA, for cross-checking Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk on Wednesday.

The altercation occurred in the first minute of their contest on Tuesday, after Tkachuk delivered a clean hit on the forecheck, spurring Kovacevic to retaliate.

Kovacevic was handed a minor on the play for cross-checking, and the Devils went on to lose the matchup, 2-1 in a shootout.

The 27-year-old was traded from the Montreal Canadiens to the Devils in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in June of 2024.

Next up for the Devils is a trip north to face the Toronto Maple Leafs while the Panthers return home to host the Detroit Red Wings.

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