Geoff Ward: Maurice trying to get an elite player suspended

Friends, it’s no secret that Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk is a good hockey player. It’s also no secret that he has a bit of a reputation as an outright pain in the backside for other teams. In his remarks to the media on Sunday afternoon, Flames interim coach Geoff Ward defended his player.

Ward was responding to comments to the media by Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice after an injury to Mark Scheifele in Game 1. Maurice characterized the hit by Tkachuk as intentional and dirty, as did a couple of his players.

Ward added that if it was Johnny Gaudreau involved in the play instead of Tkachuk, we’re not talking about it – alluding to Tkachuk’s reputation as a trouble-maker.

Game 2 goes Monday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. MT in Edmonton.