The second hit was legal when Kassian rag dolled the little female dog. There was a hit a little earlier that knocked Kassians helmet off that was a clear head shot.
- hunter3333

Don't be such a fanboy...Kassian is a goon, just because the Oilers suck and play him on the top line doesn't change that.

He can go fight Lucic if he wants to fight another goon

And that first hit is NOT a head shot, Kassian is bent over, a hip to the neck is not a head shot learn the rules. A head shot is when you drive the upper part of your body (arms, elbow, shoulder, into the head)

Again should everyone who ever hits Lucic be forced to fight him?

You guys really need to learn the rules. If Kassian is bent over and Tkachuk's hip hits it, it's not a headhsot. Keep your head up and that doesn't happen. Kassian got rocked multiple times and couldn't handle being embarassed like that.

Like Tkachuk said postgame, if you don't want to get hit, stay off the tracks. Not his fault Kassian can't take a hit.

Don't be such a fanboy...Kassian is a goon, just because the Oilers suck and play him on the top line doesn't change that.

He can go fight Lucic if he wants to fight another goon

And that first hit is NOT a head shot, Kassian is bent over, a hip to the neck is not a head shot learn the rules. A head shot is when you drive the upper part of your body (arms, elbow, shoulder, into the head)

Again should everyone who ever hits Lucic be forced to fight him?
- flashfire

The flames are up 2 points on the oil. Calm down. Haha

"Kass should fight Melanie Lucic instead..." lol

You guys really need to learn the rules. If Kassian is bent over and Tkachuk's hip hits it, it's not a headhsot. Keep your head up and that doesn't happen. Kassian got rocked multiple times and couldn't handle being embarassed like that.

Like Tkachuk said postgame, if you don't want to get hit, stay off the tracks. Not his fault Kassian can't take a hit.
- Helios

Not sure if it was a headshot, if it was, the league will step in. Tkachuk played Kassian and took some punches for the win. That’s exactly Tkachuk’s best asset, his hockey sense and timing. He knows how the game works on so many levels that a player like Kassian falls right into it.

2nd hit is a blindside hit as Gio blocked Kassians view on the incoming player. Legal yes as Tkachuk didn't leap or target the head, but still a hit that is usually asked to answer. Heavy, hard, and targeted at a certain player. If Tkachuk isn't ready to answer those calls he shouldn't throw those hits. Kassian answered the call when he threw one at MacKinnon earlier this year. Kass may get a call from the NHL DoS tomorrow, but good on him for sticking up for himself. If Matthew doesn't want to get ragdolled maybe he shouldn't step on the tracks in the first place. If you're not a heavyweight, don't poke those bears.

Don't be such a fanboy...Kassian is a goon, just because the Oilers suck and play him on the top line doesn't change that.

He can go fight Lucic if he wants to fight another goon

And that first hit is NOT a head shot, Kassian is bent over, a hip to the neck is not a head shot learn the rules. A head shot is when you drive the upper part of your body (arms, elbow, shoulder, into the head)

Again should everyone who ever hits Lucic be forced to fight him?
- flashfire

I believe all of TKetchups hits were legal, by the rules, but yes, 3 hits like that specifically targeted at Kassian needs to be addressed the old fashioned way and there is no way little Matthew is going to stand up for himself.

Kassian was drafted 13th overall and he has an extremely good skillset for a man his size and for the physical way he plays the game. He's hardly a goon.

The entire Tkachurk family has issues...the father, the mother, sister, uncles, grandfather...look it up.

You guys should watch more than just oilers games. That crap happens all the time.
Tkachuk tried to fight Draisaitl last year for hitting from behind and sticking his knee out on hits and Draisaitl turtled. And Kassian went after him then.
If there weren’t extra penalties handed out for fighting or initiating a fight then there wouldn’t be so much of it happening.
Simple fact is Tkachuk went after Kassian all night because Kassian is a bonehead and would lose his cool and cost the oilers. You don’t even have to hit McDavid for him to blow up. He’s always been half crazy.

The pic TSN has on their front page this morning is priceless, Marrissa T with her hands in front of her face in fetal position, pretty much sums up the player as a whole.

The pic TSN has on their front page this morning is priceless, Marrissa T with her hands in front of her face in fetal position, pretty much sums up the player as a whole.
- Rev

Just think you could’ve had Marrissa... but instead took Pulurselfvy.

2nd hit is a blindside hit as Gio blocked Kassians view on the incoming player. Legal yes as Tkachuk didn't leap or target the head, but still a hit that is usually asked to answer. Heavy, hard, and targeted at a certain player. If Tkachuk isn't ready to answer those calls he shouldn't throw those hits. Kassian answered the call when he threw one at MacKinnon earlier this year. Kass may get a call from the NHL DoS tomorrow, but good on him for sticking up for himself. If Matthew doesn't want to get ragdolled maybe he shouldn't step on the tracks in the first place. If you're not a heavyweight, don't poke those bears.
- wreckage

That is ridiculous. So what you are saying is don’t hit anybody out there unless you are willing to fight? What is the point of having bodychecking then? I totally understand if the hits are dirty or if you hit a ✰ like mcdavid then be prepared to answer the bell! But this isn’t the case kassian was embarrassed got his panties in a bunch and hurt his team. You can call tkchuck a wussy all you want but he players hard and 100% scales the edge, but you have to give it to him for taking the rag doll for the betterment of the team. That’s kassian being a meathead. tkchuck played him like a fiddle. Eat the sht Sandwich and move on.

Looks like Kassian to have a hearing...

While I'm not about to take a definitive stance on calling the hit dirty, a reasonable argument can definitely be made for the second hit being charging:

42.1 Charging - A minor or major penalty shall be imposed on a player who skates or jumps into, or charges an opponent in any manner. Charging shall mean the actions of a player who, as a result of distance traveled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner. A “charge” may be the result of a check into the boards, into the goal frame or in open ice.

He takes four strides in and hits a guy in a vulnerable position (not facing him/near the boards). When taken in the context of Kassian likely feeling like the first hit got him in the head/neck (it contacted him rather high), his reaction is understandable. He may have to pay more of a price than contributing to a loss, but I take no issue with the play in isolation. It has happened before, but it doesn't happen often and an element of powder keg has it's perks. He's contributed more to winning this year than he has to losing.

Tkachuk certainly plays right on the line well, but he also gets away with more borderline plays than he ought to. Alas, the NHL as it is isn't equipped to properly police his type of player.

Looks like Kassian to have a hearing...
- Clyde334

Kassian getting a hearing As he should. Grabbing a guy like that from behind and throwing him to the ice followed by multiple punches to the back of the head of a defensless player deserves a suspension. Tkachuk didn’t even get a chance to take his gloves off.
Tkachuks game is to be a pest throw guys off their game and score goals. Tkachuk did go after Kassian 3 times, but everyone calling him a “wussy” for landing 3 legal hits against the toughest guy on the oilers roster? Come on. There should be no expectation to fight for a legal hit....period. If you don’t pay attention to your surroundings or have your head down it’s in you. This is the highest level of the sport and if your grumpy for getting hit in this league there is the door. Tkachuk did his job perfectly. Threw Kassian off his game drew a penalty that created the game winner, took the 2 points and moves on.

Kassian getting a hearing As he should. Grabbing a guy like that from behind and throwing him to the ice followed by multiple punches to the back of the head of a defensless player deserves a suspension. Tkachuk didn’t even get a chance to take his gloves off.
- kresco

Sure, buddy. Sure

Sure, buddy. Sure
- MaximumBone

Glad you agree

Sure, buddy. Sure
- MaximumBone

Bottom line Boner, if a players helmet comes off, play is whistled dead for the sake of player safety. Both of their lids were off. Should have been blown dead then. But for the BOA, I can get behind the refs decision. 👍 😁

Glad you agree
- pzoxic

One can hold an opinion that supports their player and team without the blind zealotry. Asserting that Matthew Tkachuk was "defenseless" and "had no chance to take off his gloves" is beyond fandom and into the territory of homerism. There's a line between fandom and homerism and that lad is miles away from being even in sight of the line.

Bottom line Boner, if a players helmet comes off, play is whistled dead for the sake of player safety. Both of their lids were off. Should have been blown dead then. But for the BOA, I can get behind the refs decision. 👍 😁
- Flamin_Irishmin

Funny thing is he didn't even get a penalty for not retrieving his helmet

When you go around waiting for players to be vulnerable and then take 5 strides to hit an unsuspecting player it’s both a cheap shot, and a charge. Funny how no one ever remembers what a charge is. I have no problem with it, but the rules in the game totally protect the guys that do it. So yes Tkachuk is a wussy.

Funny thing is he didn't even get a penalty for not retrieving his helmet
- MaximumBone

When you go around waiting for players to be vulnerable and then take 5 strides to hit an unsuspecting player it’s both a cheap shot, and a charge. Funny how no one ever remembers what a charge is. I have no problem with it, but the rules in the game totally protect the guys that do it. So yes Tkachuk is a wussy.
- Grinder47

You and your dumb comments can cum back when you Grinder 69..

One can hold an opinion that supports their player and team without the blind zealotry. Asserting that Matthew Tkachuk was "defenseless" and "had no chance to take off his gloves" is beyond fandom and into the territory of homerism. There's a line between fandom and homerism and that lad is miles away from being even in sight of the line.
- MaximumBone

I am not a homer, unless it’s Simpsons Homer. I actually get more pissed off at other teams refereeing. The rules seem to have gone out the window as far as minor infractions, but that’s a good thing. I’m getting quite used to it now. I don’t like ref decisions games.

When you go around waiting for players to be vulnerable and then take 5 strides to hit an unsuspecting player it’s both a cheap shot, and a charge. Funny how no one ever remembers what a charge is. I have no problem with it, but the rules in the game totally protect the guys that do it. So yes Tkachuk is a wussy.
- Grinder47

It’s not a charge he turns and actually slows down way before making contact with the freak show. The NHL has looked at it and obviously determined that Tkachuk did nothing wrong and Kassian is the one that deserves extra discipline

I am not a homer, unless it’s Simpsons Homer. I actually get more pissed off at other teams refereeing. The rules seem to have gone out the window as far as minor infractions, but that’s a good thing. I’m getting quite used to it now. I don’t like ref decisions games.
- Flamin_Irishmin

Never said you were, but your fellow Flames fan who's treating Tkachuk as though he's his 8 year old son most definitely is.