Matthew Tkachuk had some advice for Zack Kassian after the Edmonton Oilers winger responded to a hard hit from the Calgary Flames forward with a series of pummeling blows.
“If (Kassian) doesn’t want to get hit, then stay off the tracks," Tkachuk said according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis. "I caught him three times there – you think he’d learn after the first one. If he wants to react that way we’ll take the pp, we’ll take the game winner, and we’ll move on to first place”
Kassian received a double-minor for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct for retaliating to the hit. Flames forward Elias Lindholm buried the game-winning goal in the 4-3 victory on the subsequent power play.
Zack Kassian absolutely lost it on @NHLFlames Matthew Tkachuk. 😳 pic.twitter.com/PDzY1xrkm3
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 12, 2020
When asked about Tkachuk's antics after the contest, Kassian didn't sugarcoat his feelings.
"If you're going to hit like that you have to answer the bell once in a while," Kassian told reporters including Daily Faceoff's Brady Trettenero. "He's just a young punk ... he's a p---- to be honest, straight up, that's the definition of it."
Kassian said he's challenged Tkachuk to fight in the past, but claims the Flames winger declined the invitation because of Kassian's status as a fourth liner.
"I've got 13 goals this year and he still won't fight me. When will he?" Kassian added.
The 28-year-old may get his chance sooner rather than later, as the rival clubs meet again on Jan. 29 in Edmonton.
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