Monday’s night game between the Panthers and Senators in Ottawa was a family affair.
The game featured Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk playing against his brother, Florida winger Matthew Tkachuk. With the two sons of former NHL veteran Keith Tkachuk squaring off for the first time this season, they had plenty of family members in the stands, including their grandmother, Geraldine—and she was treated to a game that was perhaps a bit too violent or her tastes.
The game was chippy throughout, with multiple penalties issued for roughing and fighting. The Tkachuk brothers were at the center of it all.
The Tkachuk bros exchange some words 🍿 pic.twitter.com/CLrHkG9TDx
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 28, 2023
Matthew earned penalties for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct at the end of the second period, then was on the receiving end of a dirty hit by Ottawa’s Zack MacEwen in the third period. (MacEwen received a five-minute match penalty.) A few minutes later, Matthew threw down in a fight with Jake Sanderson. Shortly after that, Brady helped spark an enormous line brawl when he ran into Florida goalie Joonas Korpisalo on a breakaway. The ensuing scrum led to referee Garrett Rank humorously announcing that “every player on the ice” had been assessed a penalty.
One person who wasn’t amused, though, was Geraldine. Television cameras cut to the Tkachuks’ grandmother repeatedly during the broadcast, including as the officials sorted through the aftermath of the chaotic brawl. The look on her face was priceless.
Grandma Tkachuk reacts to all the chaos 😂 pic.twitter.com/xfBaDEfE2Q
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 28, 2023
As the mother of a former NHL player, Geraldine has surely seen her fair share of violent hockey games, but Monday night’s fracas certainly stood out. The Senators became the first team since 2016 to earn more than 90 penalty minutes in a game.
