Jake Guentzel Fires Back with Clear Message Over Dirty Hit by Matthew Tkachuk

The Tampa Bay Lightning are back in the series they initially trailed 2-0 with today's 5-1 win over the Panthers; they've ensured they will get at least one more game on home ice at Amalie Arena this year.

Late in the 3rd period, controversy erupted when Tampa's Jake Guentzel was leveled by Florida's Matthew Tkachuk with a late hit. Guentzel had just fed the puck to Anthony Cirelli, who had a beeline to Florida's open net, before being leveled by Tkachuk.

While the hit knocked him to the ice, Guentzel didn't appear to be any worse for wear and soon was back up on his skates to join the melee that was sparked; meanwhile, the officials assessed Tkachuk with a 5-minute major and tossed him from the rest of the game, which had that exact amount of time left with the outcome all but officially decided.

Following the game, Guentzel had a clear message for the NHL Department of Player Safety, saying that he hopes the League does it's job with regard to Tkachuk's punishment.

The Lightning were without forward Brandon Hagel for Game 3, as he was serving a 1-game suspension for his late hit on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in the 3rd period of Game 2.

The NHL will certainly be taking a look at Tkachuk's hit on Guentzel as they did for Hagel's hit on Barkov.

Game 4 between the two divisional foes is set for Monday night before the series returns to Tampa Bay for Game 5 on Wednesday.