I think his own shield cut him and it happened when #55 elbowed him during their initial contact.
And I have absolutely ZERO issue with anyone starting a fight over a hard check on a star player. I'd lose my mind if someone hit Eichel, O'Reilly, or Risto the way Laine got hit and the Sabres just skated off like "oh well, it was clean."
Screw that.