Ottawa Senators coach Travis Green downplayed the controversy surrounding the warmup incident involving Senators’ player Nick Cousins and Toronto Maple Leafs’ goalie Anthony Stolarz. In a media session, Green said that such incidents “happen a lot more than you might think.”
NHL Investigating Stolarz-Cousins Puck Incident During Game 3 Warmup
The NHL is reportedly investigating the incident, which allegedly occurred during the warmup ahead of Game 3 on Thursday, April 24, in the first-round playoff series. In an incident that has been dubbed ‘warmupgate’, Senators’ forward Nick Cousins reportedly shot a puck towards Maple Leafs’ goalie Anthony Stolarz during the pregame warmup.
On Friday, April 25, TSN’s Darren Dreger posted on X (formerly Twitter), about the incident.
“A twist in the Battle of Ontario with allegations of pregame shenanigans last night. Sources say the NHL is looking at an incident in warmup prior to game three between the Leafs and Senators. Undetermined whether league discipline will follow,” Dreger posted.
Green also addressed the incident in a press conference after Friday morning practice.
“It’s an active investigation. I don’t know if I can comment,” the Senators’ coach said, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Travis Green on the NHL investigating the Cousins-Stolarz warmup incident. "It's and active investigation I don't know if I should be commenting on that now." 😆. Who says Green doesn't have a sense of humour? #gosesngo pic.twitter.com/mvsxicbZOq
— Coming In Hot (@ComingInHotSens) April 25, 2025
“Cousins and Stolarz have played together. I dunno. He’s probably trying to either laugh at him or make a joke or get him off his game. Is what it is,” Green added. “Game within a game. Happens a lot more than you think.”
There were reports that Green had spoken with Cousins about the incident. The player had allegedly reassured his coach that it was nothing more than a bit of gamesmanship against a former teammate. Cousins and Stolarz were both part of the Florida Panthers squad that won the 2024 Stanley Cup.
Other Senators players also claimed the incident was nothing more than a friendly interaction, and even made jokes about it.
“We’re gonna have to bring back HD for the warmup, too,” Senators’ forward David Perron said. “There was only 10 games in HD when I started my career. It sounds like we need to update quality of video in warmups, too.”
The ‘Battle of Ontario’ series has been quite combative, with Senators forward Ridly Greig involved in more than one fracas with Stolarz during the first two games. During Game 1, he charged the goalie and got tangled up. Greig was also assessed a reduced two-minute penalty for a cross-check to the face of Maple Leafs’ forward John Tavares in the same game.
During Game 2, Stolarz was involved in a shoving match with Greig when the latter crowded the goalie in the crease. Stolarz also body-checked the Senators’ player a few seconds later.
Toronto have won the first three games to take a commanding lead and could seal the series win during Game 4 on Saturday, April 26.