Domi stayed with the Knights in Erie for Friday's game (Ryan Remiorz, The Canadian Press)

Max Domi and Mitch Marner are not playing Friday, might not play for a while and the Erie Otters defenceman Kurtis MacDermid has to hope that his team can advance without him if he's to continue his Ontario Hockey League career.

MacDermid's reaction after he was ejected for his check to the head of Domi during Thurday's London Knights-Otters series opener says it all. There was little grey area about the perils of such a play, or the viciousness. Ahead of Friday's Game 2, MacDermid has been suspended for eight games.

Meantime, Domi and playoff scoring leader Mitch Marner are both listed as "day-to-day" with unspecified injuries. Marner's injury occurred after being checked in the third period by Erie forward Mason Marchment, who has been suspended indefinitely for head contact.

Kris Knoblauch said the Otters will miss big-minute man Kurtis MacDermid "tremendously" the rest of this series. — Ryan Pyette (@RyanatLFPress) April 10, 2015

OHL suspends Otters defenseman Kurtis MacDermid 8 games for his hit on Max Domi last night. Domi listed as "day to day," will miss Game 2. — AM980 London News (@AM980News) April 10, 2015

Mason Marchment has been suspended indefinitely by the #OHL for his hit on Mitch Marner. Kurtis MacDermid received 8 games for hit on Domi. — Mike Stubbs (@stubbs1290cjbk) April 10, 2015

MacDermid, who's an overage, had three head-checking penalties during regular-season play. That isn't necessarily factored into this punishment, but it suggests that the 6-foot-5, 222-pound MacDermid has had difficulty avoiding delivering head hits.

The Otters were 9-1-0-0 while another overage defenceman, Troy Donnay, was suspended 10 games late in the season. So they have some experience at operating without a key defender.

More to the point, though, London has to find a way to stay in the series without its top two players.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet (video: Rogers Television).