Niko Mikkola has been a valuable player for the Florida Panthers since joining their team for the 2023-24 season. He reached a new offensive upside in Florida, recording 17 points in 82 games before playing all 24 games for the Panthers in their run to the Stanley Cup. He already reached a new career-high in points this year, but no shot he has taken made more noise than the one on Sunday afternoon against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Panthers aren't a team that loses gracefully, and they weren't happy with their performance on Sunday. The Canadiens broke their winless drought with a 4-2 victory, but it was Mikkola's actions at the end of the game that rubbed plenty of people the wrong way. He fired a slapshot towards the Canadiens net from 200 feet as the third period expired, which caused a ruckus to end the game.
Niko Mikkola has been fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct against Montreal for taking this clapper at the end of the game.
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) March 31, 2025
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The NHL levied a max fine against Mikkola for his actions, and Canadiens fans wished Arber Xhekaj had been in the lineup when the incident happened as an act of revenge. However, the revenge could be coming sooner than Mikkola hoped, as Florida now travels to Montreal for Tuesday night's game in the second half of a back-to-back.
The Canadiens might not change their lineup after finally grabbing a win, meaning Mikkola could avoid Xhekaj. However, there are some other players who could take a run at the Finnish defenseman. Josh Anderson will likely have something to say to him, or Michael Pezzetta if he is back in the lineup for a second straight game. This much is clear: the Canadiens won't forget what happened at the end of Sunday's game.
Mikkola isn't afraid of the rough stuff, as he's been in his fair share of fights. He hasn't been in one yet this season, with his last coming against Ridley Greig and the Ottawa Senators last April. However, it's clear from his Hockey Fights page that he doesn't usually fight heavyweights. A Pezzetta or Xhekaj fight could be bad news for the Panthers' defenseman.
If the Canadiens don't retaliate with physicality, Mikkola will at least hear some boos from the Bell Centre faithful. The age old saying is that the fans don't boo nobodies, but the Bell Centre will likely make an exception in this case.