After a successful appeal, Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk‘s will not be suspended one game for taking an instigator penalty in the final five minutes of a game, Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch reported Wednesday.
Tkachuk was issued the instigator with 3:10 left in the third after a fight with the Buffalo Sabres’ Alex Tuch. The two exchanged hits before dropping the gloves, with Tuch also being called for interference in Tuesday’s game that the Senators lost, 6-4.
The NHL confirmed to Postmedia that Tkachuk would not be suspended and Senators coach D.J. Smith would not be fined $10,000, both of which are usually automatic for an instigator penalty levied in the last five minutes of a game.
Smith told reporters after the game that an appeal was planned because of the circumstances.
“I know what the rule’s for, at the end when you send guys out (specifically to fight),” Smith said. “I don’t see that situation at all. I see a guy that went out of his way to hit him dirty and he sticks up for himself. The league will make that call and let us know, but I see that not what the rule is intended for.”
It was an eventful night for Tkachuk, who earlier was in visible discomfort at the end of the second period after appearing to hurt his shoulder following a check on Peyton Krebs.
