Ottawa Senators coach D.J. Smith says the team will appeal an instigator penalty given to Brady Tkachuk on Tuesday, which would result in an automatic one-game suspension for the captain.
Per Bruce Garrioch of Ottawa Postmedia, Smith felt the instigator penalty wasn't warranted in the 6-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
"I know what the rule's for, at the end when you send guys out (specifically to fight)," Smith said. "I don't see that situation at all. I see a guy that went out of his way to hit him dirty and he sticks up for himself. The league will make that call and let us know, but I see that not what the rule is intended for."
A player gets an automatic one-game suspension for an instigator in the final five minutes of the game.
As it stands, Tkachuk would miss Thursday's game against the New York Islanders.
Tkachuk got the instigator at 16:50 of the third after a fight with Alex Tuch. The two exchanged hits before dropping the gloves, with Tuch also called for interference.
It was an eventful night for Tkachuk, who was in visible discomfort at the end of the second period after appearing to hurt his shoulder following a check on Peyton Krebs.
Tkachuk immediately skated to the locker room but returned for the third period.
After the game, Smith said the injury was an elbow stinger.
"I know what the rule's for, at the end when you send guys out. I don't see that situation at all. I see a guy that went out of his way to hit him dirty and he sticks up for himself. The league will make that call and let us know, but I see that not what the rule is intended for."
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