Mere weeks ago, emotions hit a fever-pitch in the battle of Alberta, as Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk delivered multiple questionable hits to Oilers forward Zack Kassian, resulting in Kassian pursuing Tkachuk after the whistle to deliver some vigilante justice to the 22-year-old.
The exchange resulted in a two-game suspension for Kassian and meetings between the NHL's Department of Player Safety with both the Oilers and Flames brass to ensure that we do not experience a repeat of these events when the two teams meet on Wednesday, January 29th and again on Saturday, February 1st.
On Wednesday morning, TSN's NHL Insider Bob McKenzie reported that the league is taking additional precautions to prevent another dangerous exchange, as both George Parros (Head of the NHL's Department of Player Safety) and Stephen Walkom (NHL's Director of Officiating) will attend Wednesday's game in Edmonton. The hope is that with the NHL's watchdogs present, it will act as a deterrent for any unnecessary provocation or retribution from each side as the last meeting between the two Alberta clubs got a little out of hand.
In addition to this, McKenzie also announced that the league has elected to ice four veteran officials to help keep things under wraps. Chris Lee and Kyle Rehman will be the referees, with Bevan Mills and Greg Devorski monitoring the lines. The instructions, no doubt, are to call a fair game, but to also defuse potentially explosive situations before things get out of hand, once again.
McKenzie also commented that Parros and Walkom are expected to attend Saturday's affair as well, but the team of on-ice officials are not expected draw in to the second meeting. It is expected that another veteran crew will be assigned for Saturday's contest in Calgary.
The Flames and Oilers are in a tight race with the Canucks in the Pacific Division, with only three points separating 1st from 3rd. Expect this one to be another hard fought battle by both sides, with some possible fireworks, as there is no shortage of bad blood between these two division rivals.
-
