Evander Kane Reacts To Rare 9 Seconds Of Mayhem

EDMONTON -- Well, that's one way to start a hockey game.

Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid scored the lone goal for Team Canada as they dropped an intense, spirited, hard-fought game to Team USA 3-1.

Make no mistake: This game was entertaining for most hockey fans and broadcasters across Canada, and the opening nine seconds played a huge role in that.

In case you live under a rock (or went to bed before puck drop), the opening of Team Canada versus Team USA featured some fisticuffs.

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It all started off the opening faceoff when Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel got acquainted with each other's fists. That was followed up two seconds later by Brady Tkachuk going toe-to-toe with his brother's Florida Panthers teammate, Sam Bennett.

A few seconds of playing happened before the next scuffle between J.T. Miller and Colton Parayko broke out.

Head coach Jon Cooper, who was available to the media after the game, described the opening in one word: "Mayhem."

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Injured Oilers forward Evander Kane took to social media to reveal his feelings on the game's opening.

"I must say," Kane's post on X reads. "That first 10 mins is how you sell the game. And some of you want to get rid of fighting. Great start."

This isn't the first time Kane has discussed fighting in hockey. In a previous post on X from 2023.

Kane quoted a video of an incident from the 2023 IIHF World Championship in Latvia, where Joe Veleno was suspended five games for "kicking."

"This is why fighting is needed," Kane wrote. "It discourages ideas like this and helps police the game effectively. Disgusting play to watch. Especially after my injury this year. Embarrassing."

Whether you agree or disagree with fighting in hockey, Saturday night's game will be etched in the memories of millions of people for years to come.

And, likely, we will never see a hockey game start like that again.

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