Fans blast Jennifer Botterill following a heated exchange on the HNIC panel
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.
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.
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.
