Maple Leafs' Clifford will have phone hearing with NHL over Game 1 hit

Kyle Clifford might have to pay a bit more for Game 1’s ill advised hit on Tampa Bay’s Ross Colton.

The Leafs’ fourth liner, a former Stanley Cup champion with Los Angeles, blindsided Colton in the first period into the boards with the puck already moved up ice. He received five minutes and a game misconduct and on Tuesday learned he will have a phone hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.

Clifford has already encountered the DOPS in recent days, after he conked Corey Perry of the Lightning on the head with his stick during a scrum in the last regular season meeting of the teams in Tampa. Clifford was fined $2500 (U.S.) by the league.

Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe did not mask that Clifford’s hit on Monday was “a poor decision” but indicated he would not hesitate to put him back in the lineup because of his “physicality” in what will continue to be an intense series.

After Clifford exited, the nastiness ramped up, culminating in a third period brawl that pushed the evening’s penalty minute total to 122.

But rather than fall behind as the Lightning went on a five minute power play after Clifford”s lapse in judgment, the Leafs allowed just two shots and used the energy from that effort and the home crowd to earn a 5-0 win.

Game 2 is Wednesday in Toronto.

lhornby@postmedia.com