NHL: Florida Panthers at New Jersey Devils – Source: Imagn
Tensions boiled over Tuesday night at Prudential Center as the Florida Panthers defeated the New Jersey Devils 2-1 in a shootout.
The heated scrap started after Matthew Tkachuk delivered a huge hit on Devils captain Nico Hischier near the boards in the third period.
Devils’ defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler immediately came to Hischier’s defense and landed a few hits before grabbing Tkachuk, putting him in a chokehold. Hischier also joined in, initiating a scrum between the two teams.
Watch the video here:
Referees had to intervene to break up the skirmish. Tkachuk ended up with two minors for interference and roughing, while Siegenthaler received a single minor for roughing.
Jesper Boqvist scored Florida’s lone regulation goal, while Hischier tallied for the Devils to tie the matchup at 1-1. In the shootout, Anton Lundell scored to give the Panthers the win. Florida’s Spencer Knight made 26 saves while New Jersey’s Jacob Markstrom stopped 26 shots on the night.
Devils’ captain Nico Hischier addresses scuffle with Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk
There is a long-standing rivalry between New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier and Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk. The history between Hischier and Tkachuk dates back two seasons, when Hischier injured Tkachuk, resulting in him missing three games.
In their next meeting during the holiday season, Tkachuk and Hischier dropped the gloves in a post-goal scrum with the Devils captain taking in few hits. Following the Devils’ 2-1 SO loss, Hischier addressed the incident, saying via NewJerseyHockeyNow.com:
“I think just a little bit too much emotion for me. Obviously, I don’t see him coming. I don’t think I even touched the puck.So that’s part of it. He made the hit, and just I got a little bit emotional there.”I want to stick up for myself, too. And like I said, I think I just didn’t like the hit too much. I just got a little bit emotional there. That’s hockey,” he added.
Devils’ head coach Sheldon Keefe praised the way his captain and the team responded to Tkachuk’s physicality.
“I loved the response. I thought it was great,” Keefe said.
The Devils face the Toronto Maple Leafs next on Thursday.
