PHILADELPHIA -- When Sandy McCarthy and Tie Domi mocked each other with playful gestures and trash talk, it seemed like typical tough-guy posturing.
McCarthy says it was much more than that, accusing Domi of uttering a racial slur during the playoff game between Philadelphia and Toronto on Monday night."He dropped an N-bomb on me," said McCarthy, a Flyers forward who is part black and part American Indian.
Domi flatly denied the accusation and accused McCarthy of spitting in his face. The Maple Leafs defeated the Flyers 2-1, but the incident threatened to embroil the league in another racial controversy in the middle of the playoffs.
"He spit in my face, so maybe he was looking for some excuse," Domi said. "I would never use those kind of words, and he knows that. He can say what he wants."
NHL supervisor John D'Amico said he would immediately notify commissioner Gary Bettman and Colin Campbell, the league's disciplinarian.
"I'll phone them and tell them exactly what has happened, and it's up to them on how they want to investigate," D'Amico said.
Flyers general manager Bob Clarke declined to say whether he would ask for an investigation, which would be the league's fourth in a little more than a year as it attempts to cope with race relations in the sport.
"Will the league look into it? Yes," D'Amico said.
Before a faceoff in the second period, McCarthy and Domi were talking trash to one another. McCarthy switched sides to be next to Domi, and they continued jawing.
Domi mocked McCarthy by shaking his knees and motioning his hand as if to encourage McCarthy to keep talking.
At the next stoppage, Domi skated away from a tussle in the corner, and McCarthy motioned to Domi and flapped his arms like a chicken. Domi merely rolled his eyes.
McCarthy said Domi used the slur before the faceoff, while Domi insisted that McCarthy spat on him.
"It was just before the faceoff, and I turned to fight him and he wouldn't fight me," McCarthy said. "You speak words like that, you better be ready to defend yourself. It's the first time it's happened to me in my career, and I think the NHL should do something about it."
Domi, renowned for his talents as a pugilist, said he was under strict orders from Toronto coach Pat Quinn not to fight in the playoffs. Pressed on whether he said anything that could have been taken as racial, Domi said, "Absolutely not. And he knows that."
"Their whole bench saw him spit in my face," Domi said. "I showed the linesman, and I left it on my face and I showed the ref, too."
AVALANCHE 2, SHARKS 1 (OT): At San Jose, Calif., rookie right winger Milan Hejduk scored 7:53 into overtime, giving Colorado a 2-0 series lead to Denver for the next three games.
Hejduk took a pass from Colorado captain Joe Sakic and fought off Sharks left wing Jeff Friesen in front of the crease to beat goalie Mike Vernon.
With the Sharks up 1-0, Adam Foote scored on a power play 14:20 into the third period.
HURRICANES 3, BRUINS 2: A disputed third-period goal gave Carolina a 2-1 lead in the series. Andrei Kovalenko's skate was in the crease when the puck got past Byron Dafoe 2:54 into the period. The visitors then held on for their second straight 3-2 win.