As the Ottawa Senators prepare to face the Philadelphia Flyers, a potential rematch between Brady Tkachuk and Brendan Lemieux has captured the attention of NHL fans. Senators coach DJ Smith, however, is making it clear that he doesn’t want star player Tkachuk engaging in a fight with Lemieux.
This upcoming game marks the first time Tkachuk and Lemieux will face each other since the biting incident in Los Angeles on November 27, 2021. During that game, Tkachuk claimed that Lemieux bit him after they dropped the gloves, leading to a 5-minute match penalty for Lemieux.
Coach Smith has emphasized that Tkachuk has nothing to prove by engaging in another altercation with Lemieux. Instead, he wants the focus to remain on the game and his star player’s impressive performance this season. Tkachuk has scored 34 goals and recorded 43 assists, totaling 77 points in 74 games. His contributions on the ice have been invaluable for the Senators, and his 107 penalty minutes (PIMs) show his willingness to defend himself and his teammates when necessary.
On the other hand, Brendan Lemieux, now playing for the Flyers, has appeared in 36 games this season, scoring 2 goals and assisting 6 for a total of 8 points. He has also accumulated 70 PIMs, demonstrating his aggressive style of play. While the anticipation for a rematch between Tkachuk and Lemieux has been building, DJ Smith’s stance reflects his desire to prioritize team success and player safety over settling personal scores.
As the Senators and Flyers prepare to face off, fans will be eager to see how the situation between Tkachuk and Lemieux unfolds. However, with DJ Smith’s guidance and emphasis on playing the game, it’s likely that the teams will prioritize showcasing their skills on the ice rather than rehashing past incidents, but we will see, Tkachuk is a feisty guy and will be throwing a big him on Lemieux at the least.
