Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk will not face any supplemental discipline for his late-game hit on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jake Guentzel in game three. Despite Tkachuk receiving a five-minute major for interference on the hit, the NHL has determined no additional punishment is justified. As Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman notes, the reasons could be related to several factors, including there being no head contact and that Guentzel did touch the puck prior to the hit.
The hit comes one game after Tampa Bay forward Brandon Hagel received a one-game suspension for leveling Aleksander Barkov. Similar to Tkachuk, Hagel received a five-minute major for interference. As Friedman notes, the force of the hit Tkachuk delivered on Guentzel may not be considered as impactful as the one Hagel delivered to Barkov. And as David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period adds, Barkov never played the puck prior to being hit. It can also be noted that Barkov exited game two and did not return, although he did suit up in game three.
Tkachuk’s hit drew the ire of multiple Lightning players, including captain Victor Hedman. He told reporters following the game, including Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times, that the timing of the hit was also questionable, as the Lightning were in the process of scoring an empty net goal to make the score 5-1. Hedman added that the team can’t control what actions are or are not worthy of suspension.
With Hagel set to return for game four on Monday, it will be interesting to see if tensions remain high. Either way, Tkachuk remaining available for game four and beyond is clearly welcomed news for the defending champs. Tkachuk was a key factor in the team’s run last season, registering 22 points in 24 playoff games, and he is off to a fast start in three games so far this year, securing three goals and an assist thus far. Florida currently leads the series 2-1.
Meanwhile, Guentzel, who appears fine and ready to go for game four, continues to build upon his impressive playoff history. As Benjamin Pierce points out on the team’s website, the 30-year-old is tied with Edmonton forward Leon Draisaitl for the seventh-highest goals-per-game average in NHL playoff history.
It’s been 11 minutes.. where are the comments?!
This is disappointing (so far). :D
It is clear the Tampa players need to step up and handle the slimy rat, Geekie, Cernak and others need to pound him until he realizes that he can’t hit and run .. First shift let’s go….
Am I surprised? Nope. NHL has proven they play favorites, this shows it blatantly. NHL’s reason for no suspension is weak & a hypocritical double-standard. The NHL is being lambasted by NHL fans of all kinds on social media outlets, message boards, & so forth. This sets a really bad precedent for the NHL on numerous levels. The NHL is treading on thin ice on doing what the NFL has been repeatedly criticized for in showing favoritism for the Kansas City Chiefs & the NFL has felt it but that’s another topic. This isn’t about the Tampa/Florida battle as that’s just a piece of it but now, this action by the NHL presents a much bigger issue on the league itself & fans of all kinds should be concerned.
As for Tkachuk, he’s made himself a target for the wrong reasons & game 4 is going to be absolutely brutal for him. If something happens to him, the NHL has no one to blame but themselves.
None of you who complains about playing favorites can ever provide any evidence to support your claim nor any reason why the folks at the NHL would favor one team over another. And your opinion on the subject is just that and not evidence. A bunch of screamers on both sides do their thing – one clan says it is a cheap shot and the other clan says it is not, while all of you believe that you are correct.
one resulted in an injury the other didn’t, I loved Hagel when he was with the Hawks but Barkov never touched the puck or was close to the puck, Guentzel had just gotten rid of the puck, its not favoritism the Hagel hit was just worse, and Hagel only got 5 Minute Major and not a game misconduct for some reason
@ Feel the thumper. Just so you can solve at least one conspiracy theory. I was the second shooter on the grassy knoll
@NSco1996 – I suggest you read Adam Gretz’s article from Yardbarker as he explains the whole matter quite well & pretty thorough on why the NHL is absolutely wrong in the matter. Also, Barkov was shaken up but he wasn’t truly injured & played in game 3.
Another example, Samoskevich should have had a game misconduct in game 3 for his knee to knee to Kucherov but it was called “tripping” even though the replay clearly shows it’s an intentional knee to knee hit. When Kucherov did knee to knee with Tkachuk, it was a game misconduct & Tkachuk acted “hurt” & came back 2 minutes later. There is a double standard in the NHL.
This is why nobody can take you seriously. That play was not a knee on knee misconduct. You watch the game through blue colored glasses. There’s nothing wrong with that, but to come on here and say the league is rigged towards your teams biggest rival is insane.
Kachick is a loud mouth front runner. Let him sit and chit chat all game. He is too dumb to realize running your mouth when you are down 3 goals is crazy.
@jdgoat – LOL! First off, I never said the league is rigged towards my team. I said the league is rigged period. Big difference. Florida does get favorable calls though & it doesn’t matter who it’s against. The league is trying to make them out as the “bad boys” of the league. All the league cares about is what brings headlines & draws attention to it. Secondly, yes, that was a knee to knee misconduct as even the announcers were arguing it was. Just because you don’t agree with it, doesn’t mean it wasn’t. Lastly, I can careless if you take me seriously or not. Tkachuk should have gotten a suspension & the NHL is getting ripped for it throughout.
Clearly USA hockey has rallied behind the Kachuck brothers as the new face of American hockey. Very sad from where I sit as an American.
The 4 nations…what a joke, after a prelim game, USA hockey talking miracle on ice.
Please NHL, do not go the way of the NBA and MLB.
Agree with the USA hockey and brothers assessment. Not sure what your issue is with the NBA & MLB?
his face hit the freaking ice hard, and first, and he immediately grabbed his jaw in pain
5 minute major and a game misconduct seems about right. I hope the Lightning do focus on getting “even”. They should focus on playing the game as this is a very evenly matched series and a few moments of losing focus will probably decide who moves on
Well said. I do not expect either team to run around. Too much at stake.
Either way, the cup runs through Florida …….again
No surprise. Keep Ekbad and Kachick in the game. Watch the lightning play hard between whistles and win another game.
Leave all the theater to the panthers.
So does Ekblad get a game for a forearm to the face? or to the Panthers goons just get to goon the whole time. I’m not sure why they seem to get a pass constantly, other than a dirty piss test. If this were the 80s I get it but it’s not…
Right, this is crazy. Both Eckblad and Mikola should be suspended for head targeting.
It will be interesting, as using the league’s language in Tkachuks statement the other day. The head, in both of these cases WAS the primary target.