As Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff notes–and those of you who follow me on Twitter have noted–when Matthew Tkachuk slashed Lucas Raymond on the leg yesterday night, there was no response from the Red Wings, and that pissed off partisans all over the world:
During the first period [on Thursday], Flames agitator Matthew Tkachuk was at it again. He just seems to know how to get under the skin of the Red Wings.
Tkachuk responded to some mutual bumping by delivering a slash to the back of the legs of Red Wings rookie forward Lucas Raymond. Raymond went to the ice in a heap before hobbling to the bench. Tkachuk paid no penalty for his illegal act – from the game officials in terms of a penalty, or from any Red Wings players in the form of retribution.
To a man, Wings players are talking about how this team is sticking up for each other. They boast of the chemistry and the bonding within their dressing room.
“We have a tight-knit group in our locker room, all good buddies and we look after each other on and off the ice,” Bertuzzi said. “That’s just what happens when you’re so close in the locker room, building chemistry and doing it the right way.”
This certainly was in evidence through the first three games but wasn’t showing on Thursday. There needed to be some sort of response to Tkachuk, letting him and everyone else know that messing with the Red Wings’ kids isn’t alright.
Duff continues; I don’t believe that hockey is a space any more where you need a dedicated enforcer to immediately challenge Tkachuk to a fight, but whether it’s Givani Smith, Michael Rasmussen, Mar Staal or someone else, the Wings did need someone to give Tkachuk a rough ride for at least a couple of shifts thereafter, and that didn’t happen on Thursday.
