NEW JERSEY VS. TORONTO BUFFALO VS. PITTSBURGH COLORADO VS. LOS ANGELES DALLAS VS. ST. LOUIS

Friday, May 4 Domi's hit a blow to Leafs By Brian Engblom Special to ESPN.com TORONTO -- Tie Domi's hit on Scott Niedermayer was a clear cheap shot and should have never happened. The incident was the epitome of an elbowing penalty with an intent to injure. The two players were going in opposite directions on a Toronto power play. Domi had just passed the puck up the ice to start the Leafs on a 2-on-1 breakaway from the blue line in. He then went toward the boards, gave the unsuspecting Niedermayer a whack with his elbow, circled around, headed back up the ice, picked up speed and never looked back. I'm convinced Devils defenseman Scott Stevens was the only New Jersey player who saw the hit live, since he was in the penalty box on the opposite side of the ice. If Stevens had been out of the box, he would have killed Domi. The guy sitting in the penalty box with Stevens was scared to death. The closest analogy to Domi's deliberate act may be Dale Hunter's hit on Pierre Turgeon in the 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs after Turgeon scored and knocked Washington out of the playoffs. The NHL won't mess around -- proof of that was Domi being suspended for the rest of the playoffs, and if the Leafs are eliminated by the Devils, Domi's suspension will carry over to the first eight games of next season. The incident is a big blow to the Maple Leafs, who had played well and done many positive things to even the series. Domi's hit will take the Leafs energy away and will be a rallying cry for the Devils, who have been emotionally lukewarm in the series and in the playoffs. They have ebbed and flowed and have not played with their typical machine-like quality. Even though they lost Game 4, the Devils have regained momentum. The series is tied, and the Devils are back to square one with renewed focus. Unfortunately for the Leafs, Domi had played a great game. His line with Shayne Corson and Darcy Tucker was a huge force. Besides taking two dumb penalties in the first period and making an even dumber mistake at the end, Domi was an effective, physical presence at every other moment. The Leafs use him in the first shift of almost every game so he can bang around and help set a tone. Now Domi's expected absence will force Leafs coach Pat Quinn to readjust the Corson-Tucker line. Cheap shots have occurred in the NHL for generations because it's a physical and emotional game. Sometimes, emotions get out of control. Domi was unavailable for comment after the game. Quinn is an attorney, and I'm sure he didn't want Domi saying anything until the NHL holds a hearing. In the back of his mind, Domi may have thought he had a reason to go after Niedermayer, but that has been unsubstantiated. The Devils won't get a chance to get back at Domi this series, but they will next year. Although players may lose some feelings of vengeance over the summer, they don't forget. The league will be aware when the Leafs and Devils meet again next season and will hope the situation cools down over time. Former NHL player Brian Engblom was ESPN's analyst for Thursday's Leafs-Devils game. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

ALSO SEE Leafs' victory over Devils marred by Domi's hit NHL hits back: Leafs' Domi out for rest of playoffs Shactman: Devils' revenge on Leafs? Winning the series Shactman: Leafs concerned, not apologetic AUDIO/VIDEO  Scott Niedermayer is taken from the ice on a stretcher, compliments of a Tie Domi elbow. avi: 2669 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN Cable Modem