Tampa Bay Lightning centre Curtis Douglas was fined the maximum allowable amount under the Collective Bargaining Agreement for serving as the aggressor in an altercation with Florida Panthers defenceman Niko Mikkola, it was announced Friday.
The announcement was made by the Department of Player Safety, and the total of the fine was $2,018.23.
Tampa Bay’s Curtis Douglas has been fined $2,018.23, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for serving as the aggressor in an altercation with Florida’s Niko Mikkola.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) February 6, 2026
With the Lightning in firm control and leading 4-0 in the third period, Mikkola knocked Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov to the ice with a shoulder as Kucherov skated after a blown whistle. As Mikkola skated to the bench, a fight broke out between star players Matthew Tkachuk for the Panthers and the Lightning’s Brandon Hagel, in a continuation of what has been a chippy series between state rivals this season.
Nine players received game misconducts for their roles in the melee, including Panthers head coach Paul Maurice. Just over two minutes later, Douglas took aim at Mikkola and was given a 10 minute aggressor penalty on top of a five minute major for fighting. Mikkola was not assessed a penalty on the play.
The Lightning would go on to 6-1, extending their winning streak to five games and pushing their atop the Atlantic Division standings to six points entering the Olympic break.