The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that they have suspended Calgary Flames left wing Matthew Tkachuk one game for his actions on Wednesday Night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. During the second period, Tkachuk speared Maple Leafs forward Matt Martin as he was involved in an altercation with another Flames player. Tkachuk was on the bench at the time. The Leafs would go on to beat the Flames 2-1 in a shootout. Tkachuk will miss tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.
Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk suspended one game for unsportsmanlike conduct for his actions during last night’s game against Toronto. https://t.co/XzTPxztSJb
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 7, 2017
Matthew Tkachuk is considered a repeat offender and will forfeit $11,280.49 in salary. His third suspension in 103 career NHL games.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) December 7, 2017
Matthew Tkachuk Suspended One Game
The play went undetected by the on-ice officials and so Tkachuk was not assessed a penalty for the infraction.
This is Tkachuk’s second suspension in the last month. The first time, he was suspended one game for a game in mid-November against the Detroit Red Wings. That incident occurred late in the game when Detroit Red Wings forward Luke Witkowski was ejected from the game for fighting. On his way to the tunnel to exit the game, Witkowski was speared in the legs by Tkachuk. Witkowski then proceeded to turn around, re-enter the ice, and retaliate, and a full-on brawl occurred. Witkowski was automatically suspended for ten games for the incident.
Tkachuk has four goals and 13 assists for 17 points in 27 games so far this season. He was drafted in the first round, 6th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, by the Flames.
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 08: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Calgary Flames skates with the puck during the second period of the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on December 8, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
