NHL fines Maple Leafs head coach Keefe US$25,000 after disagreement with refs

The NHL has fined Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe US$25,000 for “unprofessional conduct directed at the officials.”

Keefe was given a game misconduct and ejected by officials with 2:14 left to play in the Maple Leafs’ 6-2 loss to the visiting Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday.

Asked where the exchange ranked in terms of what he’s said to officials in the past, he replied: “Not going there, not going there.”

Keefe was clearly annoyed by a tripping penalty assessed to Toronto winger Mitch Marner on Vegas forward Chandler Stephenson with 4:53 remaining in the third period after the Leafs cut the deficit to 4-2.

The Maple Leafs were scheduled to face the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena.