NHL suspends Matthew Tkachuk 2 games for elbowing Drew Doughty (Video)
Matthew Tkachuk will sit for two games after the NHL’s Department of Player Safety suspended the Calgary Flames rookie for elbowing Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings Sunday night.
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Here’s why Tkachuk won’t be back in the Flames’ lineup until Saturday night in St. Louis:
As explained in the video, initiating contact to protect the puck is fine for players, but not when initiating contact is throwing an elbow into an opponent’s face.
Tkachuk has a bit of a reputation around the league in his first NHL season. Doughty called him a “pretty dirty player” after the game and noted the two seem to find one another often when on the ice together.
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“It’s just that every game I’ve played against him basically, me and him get after it a little bit,” Doughty said via LA Kings Insider. “Obviously, partially that’s my fault, too, because I like to get under peoples’ skin, too. He’s a young guy in the league, and I don’t think he necessarily meant to hurt me or anything like that, but he did.”
Tkachuk will not only sit for two games but also lose out on $10,277.78, which will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
UPDATE: Flames GM Brad Treliving released this statement on Tuesday morning:
“While we are disappointed with the League’s verdict, we nonetheless respect the process and that the League has issued its ruling. Both the Flames and Matthew accept the decision. Our sole focus now is on preparing for our game tonight in Washington, while Matthew will spend the next few days getting ready to return to the line-up on Saturday in St. Louis.”
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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy
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