\n\tWhen the Minnesota Wild faced off against the Ottawa Senators last week, it was a collision between two Team USA stars (among many others between the two teams) as Senators captain Brady Tkachuk was going in a head-on bout against defenseman Quinn Hughes. One of the top forwards on the opposing team against the blueliner that will be matched up against him.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tJust over 10 minutes into the game, as the Senators were rushing up the ice and forced Filip Gustavsson to make a save, Tkachuk and Hughes were seen wrestling after the whistle<\/a>. It wasn’t a full-blown fight but headlocks and some punches were thrown.\n<\/p>\n \n\tOn the latest episode of\u00a0Wingmen with Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, the Senators winger, explained further and joked around a little bit.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n\t“Honestly, I just wanted to score and celly in front of him and say ‘What a sh-tty defensive play’,” Tkachuk said. “Then he kind of crept up in front of me. I shoved him and as I shoved him, I was kind of like ‘If I go too hard he’s going in like a very dangerous position. And then all of a sudden I just felt his arm go around my head. … I just threw body shots galore and I can just hear ‘Ugh, ugh, ugh’.\n<\/p>\n \n\t \n\tIt’s all in good fun. Of course, a little post-whistle scrum won’t affect the relationship between two of the top players on the gold-medal winning Team USA squad. But it is fun to see them mix it up every now and again knowing what they went through in Milan.\n<\/p>\n \n\tThe Wild don’t face the Senators again this season, unfortunately. But, could we maybe see this be the Stanley Cup Final? A couple of early upsets in the Eastern Conference and the Wild go on a heater? It’s not impossible.\n<\/p>\n \n\tThat’s Wild\n<\/p>\n \t\tThe Wild must learn if they can trust Jesper Wallstedt in the playoffs. He’s come up big at times this season, but the postseason is a different beast.\u00a0[Hockey Wilderness]<\/a><\/p>\n \t\tWhen it comes to Charlie Stramel, patience is key. The gargantuan center is going to be all healed up in time for training camp.\u00a0[Hockey Wilderness]<\/a><\/p>\n \t\tThursday’s game against the Stars will tell us a lot about the Wild’s mettle.\u00a0[Pioneer Press]<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tOff the trail…\n<\/p>\n \t\tThe Washington Capitals shut out the Maple Leafs Wednesday night and made it at least not impossible that they get in the playoffs.\u00a0[NHL.com]<\/a><\/p>\n \t\tA legendary NHL defenseman says that the Oilers’ problem isn’t goaltending, it’s their style of play.\u00a0[Edmonton Journal]<\/a><\/p>\n \t\tRon Francis is to step down from his president role with the Seattle Kraken at the end of the season.\u00a0[Daily Faceoff]<\/a><\/p>\n
“We’re in a bad spot in our relationship. Like, he’s dead to me,” Tkachuk joked.\n<\/p>\n