"Hathaway knee'd him in the head": NHL fans concerned as Jake McCabe looked shaken after slamming head-first onto ice during spirited fight

Jake McCabe and the Toronto Maple Leafs, leaders of the Atlantic Division, secured their second consecutive win on Sunday, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers at Scotiabank Arena.

However, the victory was marred by a concerning incident involving Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe, eliciting reactions from fans.

During a fight with Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway at 19:54 of the first period, McCabe fell to the ice and struggled to get up. The altercation began when Hathaway collided with goaltender Dennis Hildeby, prompting McCabe to drop gloves and exchange punches with Hathaway.

The 31-year-old McCabe was left dazed and disoriented, falling backwards as he attempted to rise to his feet. Fortunately, teammate Morgan Rielly was on hand to provide support, while trainer Paul Ayotte quickly arrived to assess McCabe's condition.

The incident sparked widespread disappointment among hockey fans, with many taking to social media.

"This doesn’t need to be in hockey. That’s not fun to watch", wrote one fan.

"Omg TKO! McCabe dropped! Hope he is ok", wrote another fan.

"Hate seeing this. I used to love fighting in hockey but the older I get the less I like it", reacted another fan.

As the referees intervened to break up the altercation, Jake McCabe lost his balance and fell backwards, inadvertently pulling Garnet Hathaway down with him. The momentum of the fall caused Hathaway's knee to land on McCabe's head, while McCabe's own head slammed against the ice.

This incident was particularly concerning given McCabe's history with head injuries. The Maple Leafs defenseman had only returned to the lineup on Dec. 12, after missing consecutive games due to a head injury sustained on Nov. 30 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Many Maple Leafs fans were outraged and worried as they witnessed Hathaway's knee make contact with McCabe's head, leaving McCabe visibly shaken.

"Hathaway kneed him in the head", wrote one fan.

"If you slow it down, it looks like he kneed him in the head when he was on the ice", noted one fan.

"Did Hathaway knee him in the head there? Looked like it", questioned one fan.

"Not good. Looked like bad fall and knee to head", wrote another fan.

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Maple Leafs edge Flyers 3-2: Jake McCabe receives roughing penalty after altercation

NHL: Philadelphia Flyers at Toronto Maple Leafs - Source: Imagn

A skirmish between Jake McCabe and Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway at 19:54 of the first period resulted in McCabe leaving the ice.

The altercation began when Hathaway collided with Hildeby, prompting McCabe to engage in a physical confrontation. Both players received fighting penalties, with Hathaway also being called for goaltender interference and McCabe receiving a roughing penalty.

Despite being understaffed on defense, the Maple Leafs secured a 3-2 victory over the Flyers. Matthew Knies scored the Leafs' first goal at 4:02 of the first period, followed by Oliver Ekman-Larsson's goal at 18:52. Scott Laughton tied the game at 2-2 in the second period, but Morgan Rielly's overtime goal sealed the win for the Maple Leafs.