Tue Apr 29 01:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Tkachuk Avoids Further Discipline for Hit on Guentzel in Panthers-Lightning Clash
**Sunrise, FL** – Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk will not face supplemental discipline for his five-minute major penalty on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jake Guentzel during Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series, sources confirmed to ESPN on Sunday. The NHL Department of Player Safety deemed the on-ice penalty sufficient, citing that Guentzel had recently touched the puck and that the hit lacked head contact.
The decision comes after a controversial series of hits. The Department of Player Safety reportedly considered Tkachuk’s hit less forceful than Brandon Hagel’s hit on Aleksander Barkov in Game 2, which resulted in a one-game suspension for Hagel. Hagel’s hit occurred after the puck was clearly past Barkov, leading to a five-minute major for interference.
The contrasting hits sparked a war of words between the coaches. Following Hagel’s hit, Panthers coach Paul Maurice stated, “The only players we hit are the ones with pucks.” Lightning coach Jon Cooper ironically echoed the same sentiment after Tkachuk’s hit on Guentzel.
Barkov, who left Game 2 early after Hagel’s hit, returned to play in Game 3. The high-stakes rivalry continues Monday with Game 4 at Amerant Bank Arena, with both Tkachuk (3 goals, 1 assist) and Guentzel (2 goals, 2 assists) leading their respective teams in scoring. The series, a clash between two Stanley Cup finalists from the last five seasons, is proving to be one of the most fiercely contested in the NHL playoffs.
First Piper 