MONTREAL — The NHL has punished the main combatants in a bench-clearing altercation in Friday night’s playoff game between the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals.Capitals forward Tom Wilson and Canadiens forward Josh Anderson were each fined $5,000 by the league.It’s the maximum allowable under the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement.Wilson and Montreal defenseman Arber Xhekaj were pushing and shoving each other as time expired in the second period.Anderson intervened before falling backward into Washington’s bench, which had a door open.The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Wilson followed the 6-foot-3, 226-pound Anderson in and charged through a linesman toward the Canadiens winger before a roaring crowd at Bell Centre.Both Anderson and Wilson were assessed a minor penalty for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct for the fight.Their fine money goes to the players’ emergency assistance fund.

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson and Montreal Canadiens forward Josh Anderson were each fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced on Saturday.

The NHL Department of Player Safety responded to the tensions that boiled over in Game 3 between the Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens, fining Tom Wilson and Josh Anderson for their scrum that spilled over onto the bench.