In the heat of a high-stakes playoff battle, physical play can sometimes cross the line—and the NHL's Department of Player Safety is making sure teams feel the pinch. Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen has been fined $5,000 for cross-checking Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov during Game 6 of their first-round series. The incident occurred early in the third period on Thursday night, with Rantanen receiving a minor roughing penalty on the play. The fine money will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund, a standard practice for such disciplinary actions.

This isn't the first time the Stars have been handed a fine this series for similar infractions. Just two days earlier, on Wednesday, Stars captain Jamie Benn was fined $2,604.17 for a cross-check on Wild forward Ryan Hartman in Game 5. The back-to-back fines highlight the intensity—and occasional over-aggression—that has defined this matchup between two Central Division rivals.

For fans tracking the series, the physicality ultimately didn't pay off for Dallas. The Wild defeated the Stars 5-2 in Game 6, clinching the series and advancing to the second round where they'll face the Colorado Avalanche. As the playoffs heat up, players across the league will be reminded that while hard hits are part of the game, the league is watching closely—and the fines are adding up.