Brady Tkachuk breaks silence on Logan Stanley punch incident

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk has spoken out about an on-ice incident involving Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley, who punched him during a game earlier this month. The incident occurred on January 3, during a 4-2 Senators win, when Stanley dropped his gloves and struck Tkachuk while officials tried to separate the two players.

Tkachuk, who did not have his gloves off at the time, was caught off guard by the punch. “I was still watching the play, and then out of the corner of my eye, I just see the punch coming,” he said. “It caught me by surprise. I didn’t expect it.” Stanley was penalized and later suspended for one game by the NHL Department of Player Safety for roughing.

The Senators went on to win the game, with goals from Thomas Chabot, Drake Batherson, and Claude Giroux. Batherson’s power-play goal, which came during the extended power play resulting from Stanley’s penalties, proved decisive in the 4-2 final.

In a separate incident, Tkachuk made NHL history earlier last month by becoming the first player to draw a high-sticking infraction in five consecutive games. The streak, which began on December 6, was noted by Senators Vice President of Communications Ian Mendes. Tkachuk acknowledged that he had noticed the pattern developing but was unaware of its historical significance until Mendes pointed it out.

The high-sticking penalties mostly occurred in high-traffic areas, such as net-front battles and contested puck situations, where Tkachuk frequently operates due to his physical and confrontational playing style. Tkachuk joked that he expected such streaks to happen in threes, not fives, and acknowledged that the run caught him off guard.

The incidents highlight the physical nature of the game and the challenges faced by players like Tkachuk, who is known for his aggressive style of play. As the NHL season continues, players and officials will be watching to see how these incidents impact the game and player safety. With the league’s emphasis on reducing violence and promoting player safety, these incidents serve as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to balance physicality with safety in the sport.