"Parros can't help himself"; "Was clean though": NHL fans left stunned as Oliver Ekman-Larsson gets fined $5,000 as penalty for Jake Guentzel hit 

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson was fined $5,000 for his reverse hit on Jake Guentzel during Monday's game. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety posted the news on X.

The fine was the maximum allowed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, as informed by the department.

"Toronto’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for interference on Tampa Bay’s Jake Guentzel."

This is only the third time in Oliver Ekman-Larsson's 988-game NHL career that he's faced supplemental discipline. He was last fined $5,000 for slashing in March 2018.

Fans reacted quickly on social media to Ekman-Larsson's fine after hit on Jake Guentzel.

One fan said, "That was clean though 😭,"

Another wrote, "Joke league loool," expressing frustration with the decision.

Many were surprised by the penalty, feeling the hit was part of regular gameplay. Despite the mixed reactions, the league ruled it as interference, leading to the fine.

Here are some more reactions from fans on X:

"Sorry, but there's no way OEL receives that fine if he's playing for any other team and makes that hit. I don't buy it" a fan wrote.

"Whatever, 5k fine is nothing, and the team will pay it. Nothingburger. Parros needs to go, though." another said.

"So is Pasta getting a $5k fine and retroactive 2 minute interference call the next time he plays the Leafs for doing this exact same thing to Tavares?" one fan mentioned.

"Def an interference penalty. Neither player had possession of the puck. Hitting is for the sole purpose of separating someone from possession of the puck. Having said that, I don’t see why a fine is necessary." a fan opined.

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Jake Guentzel received the hit in Tampa Bay Lightning's 5-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 on October 21. Oliver Ekman-Larsson hit Jake Guentzel high during the game. Ekman-Larsson, now with Toronto, is playing better after winning the Stanley Cup last season with the Florida Panthers.

William Nylander scored two goals and had an assist. Auston Matthews extended his goal streak to three games, and Mitch Marner added two assists. Anthony Stolarz made 32 saves, and the Maple Leafs have now won four of their last five games.