Fans react when Bo Horvat gets $2,500 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct against Sharks bench player

New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat has been fined $2,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct toward the San Jose Sharks’ William Eklund during their 2-1 win Saturday at SAP Center on the road, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced Sunday.

The accident occurred less than four minutes before the end of the third period. Horvat skated toward the Sharks bench, let go of his stick and jerked Eklund’s helmet hard before skating away. The interaction received no response from Eklund, although the Sharks’ Tyler Toffoli was seen getting upset by Horvat’s actions.

Unfortunately for the Isles Center, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety also did not take kindly to the incident. They provided a summary of their fine ruling on Sunday, which reads:

“New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat was fined $2,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct against San Jose Sharks forward William Eklund on the San Jose bench during the 999th NHL game in San Jose on Saturday, March 7, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced today.

“The incident occurred at 16:15 of the third period. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.”

Fans reacted on social media after the announcement. They felt that the league was too harsh on Horvat and that the huge fine was not justified.

Here are some reactions:

“(George) Parros is getting soft in his old age,” one fan said of the NHL’s head of player safety.

One fan asked: “So players can’t joke around anymore??? What is this?”

“$2,500 for small talk on the bench? The NHL has lost the plot,” one fan wrote.

One fan commented: “Tweeting someone on the bench is good?? Haha.”

“Cross-face checks are accepted but helmet throwing is okay?” another fan asked.

“Bro this is literally human nature, growing up in the NHL,” one fan added.

Both Horvat and Eklund are key players in their lineup. Horvat has scored 27 goals in 50 matches for the club and is eight goals away from his career high in a single season. Eklund is the No. 7 overall pick of the 2021 NHL Draft. He has 148 points in his career with 38 coming this season.

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Many fans took issue on social media that instead of Horvat, the Isles’ Mathew Barzal should have been penalized for a hard hit on Sharks forward Maclin Celebrini just moments before the incident occurred in the third period. While crossing to the Islanders’ puck, Celebrini took a hit from Barzal and appeared shaken.

During post-match interviews, he walked away when asked about Barzal’s behaviour.

The Sharks are in a battle for Western Conference Wild Card spots. They trail the second-place Seattle Kraken by one point after Sunday.