"These officals stink" "Clown refs": NHL fans react as chaos erupts between Rangers and Canadiens players during game

During Saturday's game between the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens at the Madison Square Garden, a heated scrum broke out between the players of the two teams. With 1:26 left in the second period, and New York leading 3-1, tempers flared, leading to multiple penalties.

Players involved included Jonathan Quick, Arber Xhekaj, Juraj Slafkovsky, David Savard, Ryan Lindgren and Mika Zibanejad. Quick, the Rangers' goalie, surprised fans by joining the altercation, adding to the drama.

The incident quickly gained the attention of NHL fans on X. B/R Open Ice shared a video of the scrum, with the caption:

"Everyone got involved in this scrum...including Jonathan Quick."

Fans reacted strongly, with one calling the officiating poor:

"These officials stink. They stunk last night in Utah too."

Another fan simply wrote, "Clown refs," criticizing how the game was handled.

"I don’t understand why MTL gets 3 penaltys and NYR gets 3 penaltys but NYR ends up with the PP," a fan pointed out.

Here are some more reactions from fans on X:

"Goalies gotta start dropping the glove and blocker if they want to participate like proper gentlemen," a fan said.

"The Habs getting absolutely rag dolled every game lmao what a pathetic team," another fan said.

"Well usually when you start digging at the goalie and a scrum happens to protect the goalie. your team is the one who ends up getting a penalty… just saying," one fan wrote.

"In every situation, it seemed that Montreal either instigated or got over aggressive, where the Ranger players were not trying to start anything unneeded. This is an opinion from an Oilers fan who doesn’t gaf about either of you or this game. Hope this gives different perspective," one fan mentioned.

The commotion kept the fans engaged as both the Rangers and Canadiens played strongly.

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New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens have a tough battle on ice

The New York Rangers vs. Montreal Canadiens game ended 4-3 in favor of the Rangers, who ended their five-game losing streak. The Canadians lost despite making a comeback in the third period.

Early in the first period, Jacob Trouba and Josh Anderson fought, setting the tone. Artemi Panarin scored first for New York on a power play, assisted by Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad.

Mike Matheson tied the game for Montreal with a snapshot. Vincent Trocheck scored just before the first period ended, giving New York a 2-1 lead.

In the second period, Zibanejad added a power-play goal to make it 3-1. Montreal responded in the third, with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki scoring to tie the game in the third.

At 17:20, Kirby Dach got a double-minor penalty for high-sticking Mika Zibanejad. Rangers Kaapo Kakko scored at 19:36 to secure the 4-3 win.