Nathan MacKinnon fined $5,000 for helmet toss to rival’s face

Toss a helmet? Tossed from the game.

Avalanche star Nathan Mackinnon was promptly ejected from Wednesday’s game against the Coyotes when he threw Conor Garland’s own helmet right back at him during a tussle in the third period.

MacKinnon was fined $5,000, the maximum amount allowed under the CBA for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The incident occurred in the final minutes of the matchup as Mackinnon and Garland became physical along the boards. After ripping Garland’s helmet off, MacKinnon picked it up off the ice and flung it at the Coyotes forward, hitting him right in the face. The 25-year-old MacKinnon earned a 10-minute misconduct and was sent to the locker room.

Colorado went on to take 9-3 victory behind a Joonas Donskoi hat trick as part of a five-goal first period.