Former NHL enforcer John Scott condemned Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield for executing a “gutless” takedown on Washington Capitals heart Connor McMichael on Wednesday.
The 2 gamers dropped gloves within the third interval of Carolina’s 5-1 win. With each dropping their helmets early within the scrap, Chatfield took McMichael down forcefully to the ice in a wrestling-style slam.
Whereas McMichael wasn’t injured on the play, many criticized Chatfield’s actions as unnecessarily harmful. Scott was amongst them, tweeting:
“Gutless. Intent to injure. This ought to be a multi-game suspension. No self-discipline. … what are we doing right here?”
Each gamers obtained matching five-minute combating majors and 10-minute misconducts.
The struggle occurred throughout a chaotic seven-minute stretch that noticed 120 complete penalty minutes. There have been eight misconducts, 4 combating majors and 10 minor penalties assessed between the 2 groups.
Capitals coach Spencer Carbery hinted his frustration over some uncalled performs main as much as the incident:
“There have been only a few performs earlier than (the takedown) that, . … participant security is an enormous factor. Guys are so good at policing one another on what’s harmful or what’s not, and there have been a number of harmful performs that begin to get. … you possibly can really feel the temperature elevating.”
Carbery identified a number of moments within the sport the place, given the rating (5-1), missed calls by the refs led gamers to take issues into their very own palms. He emphasised that that is when participant security turns into a priority, as teammates step as much as defend one another.
The Capitals and Hurricanes will not have to attend lengthy for a rematch, because the division rivals are scheduled to play once more subsequent week in Washington.
Craig Button requires a “suspension” for Jalen Chatfield
Craig Button, TSN’s Director of Scouting, referred to as for Jalen Chatfield to be suspended for his harmful takedown of Washington Capitals ahead Connor McMichael.
“This can be a harmful play. It is an intent to injure play, there isn’t any room for it,” Button stated (per TSN).
He added that it was merely luck that McMichael wasn’t severely injured on the play. Button believes Chatfield’s actions warrant a suspension from the league.
“The best way he whips him round over his leg, I believe it needs to be a suspension. There is not any place for that on this sport of hockey,” Button stated.
The 28-year-old Jalen Chatfield is in his first season of a three-year, $9 million contract with Carolina. He has six objectives and 17 factors together with 49 penalty minutes in 74 video games this season.
