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

The incident occurred with less than four minutes to play in the third period. Horvat skated towards the Sharks bench, let go of his stick and flicked Eklund’s helmet aggressively before skating away. The interaction drew no response from Eklund, although Sharks’ Tyler Toffoli was seen getting agitated by Horvat’s actions.

Unfortunately for the Isles center, the NHL Department of Player Safety also didn’t take kindly to the incident. They gave a briefing about their judgment of the fine on Sunday, which read:

“New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat has been fined $2,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct against San Jose Sharks forward William Eklund at the San Jose bench during NHL Game No. 999 in San Jose on Saturday, March 7, the National Hockey League’s 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 the massive fine wasn’t warranted.

Here are a few reactions:

“(George) Parros is getting soft in his old age,” a fan said about the head of the NHL Department of Player Safety.

“So players can’t joke around anymore??? What is this,” a fan questioned.

“$2500 for a little bench chat? NHL’s lost the plot,” a fan wrote.

“Chirping someone on the bench is a fine ?? Lol,” a fan commented.

“Cross checks to the face are accepted but a helmet flip is a fine??” another fan questioned.

“Bruh this is literally human nature, grow up NHL,” a fan added.

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

Macklin Celebrini shies away from commenting on Matthew Barzal hit

Many fans contested on social media that instead of Horvat, Isles’ Matthew Barzal should have been penalized for a huge hit on Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini a few moments before his incident occurred in the third period. While traversing towards the puck that was in possession of the Islanders, Celebrini took a hit from Barzal and looked shaken up.

During the postgame interviews he walked away when asked about Barzal’s conduct.

The Sharks are locked in battle for the Western Conference Wild Card spots. They are trailing the Seattle Kraken, who hold the second spot, by a point after Sunday.