The Toronto Maple Leafs face the Philadelphia Flyers this evening at Scotiabank Arena. A first clash among the three planned this season between the two teams.
The Flyers are known for being a tough team across the NHL. They did not fail once again this evening. Garnet Hathaway engaged in a fight with Jake McCabe of Leafs with barely six seconds left on the clock in the first period. A fight without much fanfare, which struck McCabe at the end. The Toronto defender appears to have fallen on his head at the end of the fight and has difficulty getting up.
See here the fight published on X couple Sportsnet
A fight that initially started with McCabe punching Hathaway in the face who was already lying on the ice under the local defender.
Shortly after, the Toronto Maple Leafs organization confirmed that McCabe would not return to action tonight. He was injured in the upper body.
Hathaway, 6 feet 212 pounds, usually completes the Flyers’ 4th line to the right of Sean Couturier and Joel Farabee. Currently in his second season with John Tortorella’s team, he has hit the target three times since the start of the campaign and has nine assists in 39 games. Last year, he participated in all of the Flyers’ games and amassed a measly 17 points.
On the side of the Queen City team, McCabe has practically the same measurements as his opponent. At 6 feet 1 and 212 pounds, the 31-year-old American forms the Leafs’ first pair of defensemen with Chris Tanev. In 35 games played so far, he has flashed the red light once and contributed to 10 goals. On October 28, the 44th overall pick in the 2012 auction signed a five-year deal worth $22.55 million.
A heavyweight fight which had a rather worrying end.
Let’s hope his injury isn’t too serious.
