Report: Tkachuk won't face further discipline for hit on Guentzel
Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk won't face any discipline for his interference major on Tampa Bay Lightning counterpart Jake Guentzel in Saturday's Game 3, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.
Tkachuk was penalized for targeting Guentzel prior to Anthony Cirelli's empty-net goal that sealed Tampa's win.
Matthew Tkachuk was given a five-minute major for this late hit on Jake Guentzel#TimeToHunt | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/0O4Lt1DVVE
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 26, 2025
The hit came after Lightning forward Brandon Hagel was suspended one game for interference on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov. However, the league views Tkachuk's hit as different than Hagel's because of less force, no head contact, and because Guentzel played the puck, Friedman noted.
Guentzel wasn't injured on the play. Barkov left the contest after he got hit, but he was in the lineup for Game 3.
Game 4 is scheduled for Monday with the Panthers holding a 2-1 series lead.