Jets' Pionk fined $5K for cross-checking Wild's Johansson

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk avoided a suspension for cross-checking Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Johansson in the final minute of Tuesday's clash.

The NHL Department of Player Safety dinged the rearguard with a $5,000 fine - the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement - on Wednesday.

Pionk caught Johansson in the ribs with a cross-check as the latter was playing the puck behind the Jets' net. Officials handed Pionk a five-minute major and a game misconduct.

Minnesota head coach Dean Evason told reporters after his team's 3-1 loss that he's hopeful Johansson isn't dealing with anything serious as a result of the incident.

"We want to play hard, we want to play right - we don't want to play like that," Evason said. "That's just stupid at the end. What for? What for? Play hard. If you want to fight, then fight. All the cheap stuff is wrong. Our group will fight if they want to fight.

"But the cheap stuff right now with one game to go before the playoffs? You got a guy that might be out. He gets a cheap five-minute major at the end of a hockey game? It's stupid, right? It makes no sense."

Ryan Reaves and Jets forward Adam Lowry dropped the gloves shortly afterward, but the Wild enforcer would've preferred to settle the score with Pionk.

"It was a cheap shot, obviously, but it's playoffs," Reaves said. "It's a playoff kind of game, and that's how it's going to be. There's going to be some cheap shots.

"The only difference is it can be addressed the next game or later on. (Pionk) is lucky he skated out of that one with a major and got out of that game."

The Jets weren't pleased with how the Wild conducted themselves during the contest, either. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck said Minnesota's play "got really dirty."

"We were playing hard, I guess they were playing hard, too, but they were getting a little unnecessary," he said. "I think maybe the refs let it get a little out of control, but that's playoff hockey right there."

Wild forward Ryan Hartman received more severe discipline for his actions during the heated contest. He was suspended one game for interference on Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers.

The Jets clinched their spot in the postseason with the victory.