One game into the most intriguing matchup of the qualifiers, and everyone is already talking about Matthew Tkachuk. Just how he likes it. Ahead of Game 2 between the NHLFlames and NHLJets, EricFrancis catches you up on the ongoing war of words:
Distracting the opposition with far more than just his mouthguard, Tkachuk has once again become the focal point of a juicy all-Canadian battle.Welcome back to the playoffs, everyone, where nothing is black and white – it’s all shades of grey and whatever colour bruising is.
“I don’t know if he meant to try to cut him, but I think it’s one of those plays where, how often does you skate come off the ice and land on the guy’s ankle? So that’s where I stand on it.”Although both say their angle from the bench clearly showed it to be a kick, video from various angles certainly doesn’t confirm that, in any speed.
“If we’re talking about another player – Johnny Gaudreau instead of Tkachuk – we’re not talking about it. I understand what Paul is doing. He’s trying to defend and support his player and I’m going to defend and support my player right now. But he’s trying to get an elite player on our team suspended. The league made a ruling today [that there will be no suspension], there will be no further discussion, so we move on.
He dragged his team into the fight by imposing his will and physicality on a Winnipeg team previously known for its size.
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