Mathieu Joseph explains how he ruined game for 50 friends and family

Controversy emerges on Wednesday when the Pittsburgh Penguins were in Ottawa to face the Senators that night. Prior to the contest, it was confirmed that Mathieu Joseph would be a healthy scratch. This was shocking to find out since brothers Pierre-Olivier (Penguins) and Mathieu (Senators) invited more than 50 friends and family members that travelled to see then face another. The game was supposed to mark a first NHL meeting between them.

But it did not happen, and pundits and reporters started investigating on why Joseph was being sent for such an important meeting. On Thursday, the forward finally revealed that he was scratched for “a mistake.” Head coach DJ Smith had just mentioned that the forward did not play because of a “non-hockey” issue.

“I’m just going to talk about this once,” Joseph told reporters on Thursday. “This was an internal thing. I made a mistake. I was ready to assume the consequences of it. This is on me. This is my responsibility. I know I can be better and I will.”

“I assumed the consequences of it,” Joseph added. “I’m an adult. I can deal with this. It’s part of hockey. It’s part of life and I’m ready to move forward and excited to be in the lineup.”

That’s because the brothers are facing each other tonight, as the Senators travelled to Pittsburgh to complete the home-and-away series on Friday.

Joseph was activated back from injured reserve earlier this week. He has been out since Dec. 8, has recorded nine points, 28 shots on goal and 39 hits in 25 games this season. He is focused on taking on his brother in Pittsburgh.

“It’s an exciting time for our family,” Joseph said. “It’s an exciting time for us. It’s definitely a childhood dream for me and my family and my brother. So, it’s going to be fun to see him in another logo and play against him.”

Case closed on what got a lot of people talking earlier this week.

Recommended articles:

• Details finally emerge on Mathieu Joseph getting scratched in front of 50 friends and family
• Reporter investigates as Senators pull questionable move ahead of tonight’s’ game vs. Pittsburgh
• Sens sign Mathieu Joseph to a nearly $12 million deal
• Brutal misplay from Carter Hart gets him yanked from the game.
• NHL Player Safety’s George Parros has lame excuse for Larkin on Joseph’s suspension controversy