NHL Player Safety comes down on Bo Horvat for cheap shot on the Sharks bench.

The National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety has set it sights on last night's game between the San Jose Sharks and New York Islanders, but probably not for the reason most were anticipating.

On Sunday, the disciplinary arm of the NHL announced that Islanders forward Bo Horvat would be slapped with a $2.500 fine for his actions during that game. Horvat was fined under the unsportsmanlike rule and while that is a pretty blanket term I think we can safely say which moment it was that got Horvat in trouble.

During the game Horvat approached the Sharks bench and flipped the helmet off the head of Sharks forward William Eklund while he was still seated on the bench. It was a harmless gesture but I can see why the NHL wants to put its foot down when it comes to players making contact with opposing players on the bench.

Here is a look at the replay of the incident in question:

Although the fine won't be a big deal to someone earning the kind of income Horvat is on an 8 year deal at a cap hit of $8.5 million per season, it does mean that he will be considered a repeat offender if he finds himself in trouble again within the next 18 months. That could lead to increased fines for Horvat, although admittedly he's not the kind of player who regularly finds himself on the wrong side of Player Safety.