Fans blast Jennifer Botterill following a heated exchange on the HNIC panel
Photo credit: Speakers
Hockey Night in Canada host Jennifer Botterill faced backlash this weekend after clashing with her co-hosts over a controversial play in Saturday's Canadiens and Penguins game.
The heated debate centered around a knee-on-knee hit by Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj on Penguins forward Noel Acciari in the final seconds of the game, when the outcome was already decided.
The play drew differing reactions from the panel. Former NHL player & co host Kevin Bieksa defended Xhekaj's actions pointing to an earlier incident in the third period where Acciari hit Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky while he was in a vulnerable position reaching for the puck. Bieksa argued that Xhekaj's hit was justified as a way to stand up for his teammate.
"Good team reaction from Montreal to come together as a team. That's why you want Xhekaj on the team and that's why you want him in the lineup for that stuff. The game is over... I think right there is the right time for Xhekaj to go at a guy who took out your star player earlier in the game. That for me is the right time to go at a guy."
The NHL Department of Player Safety reviewed Acciari's initial hit but decided not to issue any disciplinary action. Some believe this decision may have been influenced by Xhekaj's retaliatory hit.
Botterill, however, criticized Xhekaj's choice.
"Then you get players with potential suspensions or fines and you guys are just fine. Guess what the game is changing and there is other solutions. Maybe it's changing, maybe it can change. It has changed, it doesn't always have to be an eye for an eye."
Many fans agreed with Bieksa about players settling things on the ice. However Jennifer Botterill's focus on player safety & accountability struck a chord with others. Luckily neither Acciari nor Slafkovsky were seriously injured but the debate raised important questions about sportsmanship and physical play in hockey.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 3 | 56 ANSWERS Fans blast Jennifer Botterill following a heated exchange on the HNIC panel Do you Agree with Kevin Bieksa that Arber Xhekaj's knee-on-knee hit on Noel Acciari was justified? | ||
| Yes | 29 | 51.8 % |
| No | 27 | 48.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
