Was this an NHL game or an all-out UFC showdown? That’s the question buzzing all over after the absolute chaos that unfolded during the clash between Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals. But first, let’s talk about history in the making—Alex Ovechkin notched his 892nd career goal, creeping just three away from shattering Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record. The moment was huge, but the Carolina Hurricanes weren’t about to let the night be all about Ovi. They steamrolled the Capitals 5-1, locking in their spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the seventh straight season. Jackson Blake lit up the scoreboard with two goals, Seth Jarvis dished out a goal and an assist, and Frederik Andersen stood tall with 20 saves.

Meanwhile, the Capitals had a rough night—Charlie Lindgren made 18 saves after stepping in for Logan Thompson, who exited early with an injury. The Canes dominated from the jump, stacking up goals quickly. By the time Ovechkin finally found the net late in the second period, Carolina had already built a mountain too steep to climb. But let’s be real, that’s not what had fans fuming. No, the real drama came when things got heated—so heated that it had people wondering if a suspension was on the horizon.

Reddit’s hockey corner was on fire when a subreddit dropped a video with the caption, “Chatfield throws McMichael to the ice.” The clip showed Carolina Hurricanes’ Jalen Chatfield locking onto Washington Capitals’ Connor McMichael like a pro-wrestler, grabbing him by the collar, and—boom!—sending him crashing down with a move straight out of a WWE highlight reel.

With his feet hooked behind McMichael’s, Chatfield delivered a textbook slam dunk, but instead of a hardwood court, McMichael got a one-way ticket to the unforgiving icy floor. Ouch. That one had to sting. And now? The internet is losing it. Fans aren’t just talking about the hit—they’re demanding action and social media is flooded with one word: suspension.

One fan jumped into the chaos, dropping their take with, “Super dangerous play. Leg out for the trip on top of that, without a helmet on. Should be a suspension.” That wasn’t just your standard scuffle—it was a full-on takedown, and without a helmet? That’s a bold recipe for disaster. Now, here’s where things get extra interesting. According to Hockey Calgary, messing with helmets—whether it’s yanking off your own gear, tossing someone else’s, or just letting a helmet go flying—can absolutely land a player in hot water. We’re talking a minimum one-game suspension. But this was just the beginning!

Fans furious with Carolina Hurricanes Star’s move!

One fan jumped in, saying, “Besides the fact that they’re spinning in a circle since they’re on ice, the way Chatfield had his leg behind McMichael’s leg is how sweeps and trips from judo work. I was watching an old UFC fight between Matt Brown and Stephen Thompson last night and there’s a trip that looks almost exactly like this.”

And well, if we’re throwing it back to that fight, Stephen Thompson actually knocked Matt Brown out twice—but no one even realized it! In the end, Brown still took the win by unanimous decision. But hockey? That’s a whole different game. Another fan wasn’t having it, firing back with, “Fine in UFC. This has no place in hockey. F-ck that guy. Suspend him.” Safe to say, emotions are sky-high after this one!

Another fan couldn’t believe their eyes, dropping, “W-F was that? 4. Buddy hit him with a karate style leg-trip throw. That’s gotta be a couple game suspension, no doubt.” And honestly? That was straight out of an action movie—except this wasn’t a Hollywood stunt, it was real, and it happened on NHL ice.

If we’re talking Hockey Calgary’s rulebook, anything that looks like an attempt to injure—whether it’s kneeing, kicking, elbowing, or even using a blocker—can land a player in hot water with at least a 1-2 game suspension. So when another fan chimed in with, “Will get suspended for sure. And then will get his ass kicked next time they play each other,” you know the frustration was real. This one ain’t blowing over anytime soon!