Fans rip into Jennifer Botterill after a heated exchange with Kevin Bieksa on Hockey Night in Canada

PUBLICATION

Austin Sabourin
November 4, 2024 (2:29 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

NHL fans were not happy with Jennifer Botterill following her heated exchange with Kevin Bieksa on Hockey Night in Canada, and some called for her to be fired.

On Saturday, Hockey Night in Canada hosts Jennifer Botterill and Kevin Bieksa got into a heated debate over a controversial hit, sparking a larger conversation about safety and physicality in the NHL.

The incident started when Penguins forward Noel Acciari checked Canadiens' star Juraj Slafkovsky, who was reaching for a loose puck in a vulnerable position. While Acciari tried to avoid hitting him high, it was hard to miss his head entirely since Slafkovsky was bent over. The Canadiens weren't happy about the play, though the NHL Department of Player Safety chose not to fine or suspend Acciari.

But he didn't go without a response. In the last seconds of the game, Canadiens' enforcer Arber Xhekaj made his feelings known with a hard hit on Acciari, sending a message back to the Penguins.

Kevin Bieksa supported Xhekaj's move, saying it was the right time for payback. Although critical of Montreal's performance this season, he praised Xhekaj's choice to stand up for his teammate.

«When the game's over, that's the time to go after a guy who hit your star player earlier. That's the right time for a response. It's an eye for an eye,» Bieksa stated.

Botterill disagreed, insisting that hockey doesn't have to be «eye-for-an-eye» anymore and that the sport is moving past this mentality.

«You guys think it's fine,» she said. «But the game is changing, and there are other ways to respond. Not everything has to be payback.»

Despite Botterill's stance, most of the panel sided with Bieksa. Former player Luke Gazdic added his perspective, pointing out how intense the emotions run in these situations.

«People forget the adrenaline involved. You see your teammate, someone you care about, take a hit like that, and it makes you want to respond. Maybe it wasn't the cleanest way, but I get the frustration.»

Fans also agreed with Bieksa and some even called for Botterill to be taken off of Hockey Night in Canada, take a look:

The lack of fines or suspensions for either side in this game suggests the NHL might lean toward Bieksa and Gazdic's view. However, fans often criticize the NHL's Department of Player Safety for inconsistent rulings, and this incident only adds to that perception.