Jennifer Botterill at the centre of drama as analyst stands up for the Sportsnet host

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Tom Banks
November 5, 2024 (2:45 PM)

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Jennifer Botterill shared her opinion on an issue with the Canadiens and the Penguins, and now an analyst has stood up for her after the social media backlash.

During a recent clash between the Canadiens and the Penguins, Arber Xhekaj looked to extract revenge on veteran Noel Acciari after he took out young star Juraj Slafkovsky with what appeared to be a dirty hit.

On Sportsnet after the incident, former NHLer Kevin Bieksa spoke his mind, believing that this was the way to police incidents between players, in a take that will have many hockey fans agreeing with him.

'The game is over... I think right there is the right time for Xhekaj to go at a guy who took out your star player earlier in the game. That for me is the right time to go at a guy. It's an eye for an eye. I don't think he's too apologetic about that, I wouldn't care. I wouldn't care if it's clean or not, you get my guy I'm getting you back at some point.'

However, Jennifer Botterill couldn't have disagreed more, stating that there are other ways to 'even the score', while also revealing her belief that the NHL can change and is changing.

' Then you get players with potential suspensions or fines and you guys are just fine. Guess what the game is changing and there is other solutions. Maybe it's changing, maybe it can change. It has changed, it doesn't always have to be an eye for an eye.'

Unfortunately, this drew the ire of many fans on social media, with many calling her out for trying to make hockey 'soft'.

While Bieksa and Luke Gadzic were very respectful in their debate with the former Olympic Gold Medallist and play no part in the online hatred she has received, Ken Campbell of The Hockey News has come out and stood up for her in a huge way.

But the keyboard warriors who got all triggered were in full force. And it was pathetic. It's a panel, which is a free-flowing exchange of ideas and opinions. Be better, people.

Whether you agree with Botterill or not (which most, clearly do not), the online backlash for a simple hockey take has become ridiculous, so hopefully this doesn't continue to happen after she presents a simple hockey take.