Calgary Flames’ Matthew Tkachuk suspended one game

Well, the verdict’s finally in. Calgary Flames pest Matthew Tkachuk has been suspended one game for some incidents from last night’s game.

After waiting all morning to hear the news, NHL Player Safety has announced that Calgary Flames’ sophomore, Matthew Tkachuk, has been suspended one game for unsportsmanlike conduct. Last night during an altercation close to the Flames bench vs the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tkachuk was on the bench. And you can see him somewhat spear Matt Martin, which was very unnecessary on Tkachuk’s part.

Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan even said that he needs to learn. Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said it was junior hockey stuff, but still praised Tkachuk’s game.

Matthew Tkachuk has already been suspended once before this season for the same thing against Luke Witkowski of the Detroit Red Wings. A call which many Flames fans were frustrated by. But it seems like nobody was frustrated by today’s call. It’s the right call and it was a dumb and unnecessary move by Tkachuk. But he’ll learn as time goes.

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NHLPS gave their reasoning for the one-game suspension.

Via NHL.com:

"[…] A minor scrum ensues on the ice. At which point Tkachuk, who is not on the playing surface, but rather on his team’s bench, grabs his stick with both hands and shoves it into the pile directed at Martin. This is unsportsmanlike conduct. While the spear itself isn’t forceful or malicious enough to merit supplemental discipline on its own, two factors caused this play to rise to the level of a suspension.First, Tkachuk is on the bench when he intentionally strikes a player on the playing surface. While all incidents are reviewed individually, players who are not on the playing surface and engage in altercations in any way will be treated more harshly than players who are on the ice. Second, Tkachuk is a repeat offender. Having been suspended for similar incident just ten games ago for striking a player on the bench with his stick while he was on the playing surface."

Let’s hope he can smarten up for the rest of this season. But on the plus side…

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As for the game tonight that he’ll have to miss, we’ll most likely see Sam Bennett join the wing with Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik. But we won’t know for sure until the Calgary Flames announce it.