In a Thursday night game between TPS Turku and Oulun Kärpät in the Finnish Liiga, former Flames deadline acquisition Nick Ritchie stirred controversy with an incident involving Ottawa Senators' Marcus Nurmi.
Leading TPS Turku with 13 goals and 12 assists in 35 games, Nurmi, known for his under-the-radar style, has a knack for getting under opponents' skin. Meanwhile, Ritchie, with 26 fights on his NHL resume across various teams, is notorious for not tolerating pestering.
The stage was set for trouble in the Dec. 28 matchup between sixth-place Karpat and 11th-place TPS. After Nurmi scored, Penguins prospect Filip Lindberg left the net, replaced by Oskar Autio. Minutes later, Ritchie, who had already served two minors, reached a boiling point.
Despite Turku's 5-3 victory, Ritchie's notable performance included 29 penalty minutes, three shots on goal in 8:54 of ice time. The eight-season NHL veteran now awaits a meeting with Liiga's disciplinary delegation.
Ritchie's stint as a Calgary Flame, marked by brevity and drama, adds another chapter to his eventful career.
