During Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final between the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes, Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk was penalized for embellishment after a hooking incident involving Jordan Staal, who was also sent to the penalty box. Now, NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman shares his view on the controversial incident.
Embellishment didn’t use to be a major issue in hockey, but in recent years, there has been growing discussion about players who exaggerate situations to draw penalties from the opposing team. In Game Four between the Panthers and the Hurricanes, another embellishment incident occurred when Matthew Tkachuk was called for exaggerating a hooking infraction by Jordan Staal.
Elliotte Friedman shares his thoughts
NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman spoke on the subject on Sportsnet after the game, saying it has become a real problem during this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“I don’t think anybody liked the embellishment call. But embellishment has been a big problem in the playoffs, and as a result, I think the referees are really screwed up about it,” Friedman said.
He also believes that embellishment by players makes it difficult for officials to assess plays.
“I think a number of players have been exaggerating so much during the postseason that it has affected the referees’ ability to judge these situations properly. So the players and the teams have to stop it,” Friedman concluded.
The Hurricanes are now forced to win every remaining game in the series to avoid elimination. Game Five will be played on Wednesday in Carolina. You can watch the interview below.
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