Matthew Tkachuk received a five-minute major penalty for a late hit on Jake Guentzel during the final minutes of Game 3 between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
The incident happened just before Anthony Cirelli scored an empty-net goal that put the Lightning ahead 5-1 with five minutes remaining in the third period.
Matthew Tkachuk was given a five-minute major for this late hit on Jake Guentzel#TimeToHunt | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/0O4Lt1DVVE
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 26, 2025
Guentzel appeared uninjured after the collision.
This incident raises questions about potential supplemental discipline for Tkachuk, who has been suspended four times during his nine-year NHL career. He’s only faced one suspension since 2017.
The hit comes after Lightning forward Brandon Hagel was suspended one game for a similar hit on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper addressed the situation postgame.
“The only players we hit are the ones with pucks,” Cooper said, according to Panthers reporter Katie Engleson.
Cooper’s remark appears to reference Panthers coach Paul Maurice, who made the identical comment following Game 2.
Tampa Bay secured the 5-1 win in Game 3, reducing Florida’s series lead to 2-1.
