"Scumbag hit" "Isn't even remotely a dirty hit": NHL fans divided as Rangers' Filip Chytil suffered knee-to-leg hit from Scott Mayfield

New York Rangers forward Filip Chytil took a knee-to-leg hit from Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield in the first period of Tuesday's preseason game, which the Rangers won 6-4. The collision happened at center ice, and Chytil struggled to put weight on his left leg. He was helped off the ice, and it looked like he might not return. However, Chytil came back later in the same period and seemed fine.

NHL News shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing Filip Chytil leaving the preseason game after the hit by Mayfield.

Following this, NHL fans' reactions to the incident appeared to be divided on X.

"This isn't even remotely a dirty hit," one fan said.

"Scumbag hit," another fan commented.

A couple of fans took issue with the physicality of Mayfield's hit, especially since it's just preseason.

"What a f**king snake Mayfield is, why do you take a run at a guy in preseason like that you scum as," a fan said.

"Unnecessary hit. It’s a preseason game," a fan tweeted.

Meanwhile, other fans took issue with Mayfield's hit being called "knee on knee."

"That was not knee on knee. It was an awkward hit for sure but he hit him with his upper body. Knees may have also collided somewhat but upper body was initial point of contact," one X user commented.

"That’s not Knee on Knee. I can’t stand either team, but I hate lying more," a fan commented.

Filip Chytil reflected on hit from Scott Mayfield during preseason game

Rangers center Filip Chytil reflected on the hit he took from Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield during their preseason game and seemingly didn't take too much issue with it.

“I saw him coming, maybe I could’ve made a better move. But I saw him coming, I was ready for the hit, but I was not ready for his knee coming into my leg.

"This is a hockey play. I didn’t think about anything at all on the ice, even in the locker room and then I saw everything’s better. So I went back and played,” Chytil said (via nypost.com).

Despite dealing with injuries last season, Filip Chytil expressed his determination to play through the preseason.

“That’s me all the time. “If I can play, I will play.”

Meanwhile, Rangers players Artemi Panarin and Ryan Lindgren left the game with injuries and didn’t return.