Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk has been fined the maximum allowable amount of $5,000 under the Collective Bargaining Agreement for a cross-checking incident involving Boston Bruins forward Garnet Hathaway, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced today.
The incident occurred at the end of the first period during yesterday’s Game 4 when Tkachuk was assessed a minor penalty for cross-checking Hathaway. Given the strength of the check and its placement in a sensitive area on the side of Hathaway’s torso, some felt the play warranted a suspension. Hathaway returned to the game but stayed on the ice in pain after the incident.
It wasn’t the only penalty Tkachuk racked up in what was a physical game. He added another minor penalty for slashing midway through the third period before he was given a 10-minute misconduct for his actions in a scrum with just over three minutes remaining in the game.
It’s a lucky break for the Panthers, who need everything on their side in Game 5 to stave off another early playoff exit. They’ll need Tkachuk’s services to have any hope of doing so, as his physicality and two-way dominance almost single-handedly dragged Florida to a playoff spot this season.
He leads Florida in scoring during the series, registering two goals and three assists in four games.
Great he is not suspended let him fight I want to see his a** get hammered even by a goalie…He is not a leader in games that matter..
Funny reading some of the Bruins’ remarks in the Globe yesterday. Brandon Carlo said that Ullmark is an “animal” who’ll go with anyone, if he gets the chance. (He also mused, though, that the team REALLY isn’t enthusiastic about risking Ullmark’s hands in a fight.)
Tkachuk is a flaming a-hole. He does not make the Panthers a better hockey team. He just makes them out to be thugs. Goudas and Lomberg are not far behind. Maybe if they concentrated on making plays instead of trying to cross check and slew foot they might have a chance.
What’s weird is that he was softer in Calgary. At least he’s playing with more of an edge