There are certain traditions around the NHL involving fans throwing items onto the ice, but it’s highly unlikely that someone started a new one with what they tossed over the boards during Game 2 of the current Anaheim Ducks–Edmonton Oilers first-round series.
With 5:51 remaining in the third period of a tied 4-4 game, an Oilers fan chucked what appears to be either an entire rotisserie chicken or cooked duck onto the ice at Rogers Place. Play was paused for “objects on ice,” as the ice crew worked to clean up the many pieces of bird carcass now strewn about Anaheim’s defensive zone.
The bird took flight just moments after Oilers defenseman Josh Samanski had scored to tie the game at four goals apiece. According to the Daily Hive, an Oilers fan wearing a white jersey was seen being escorted out of his seat shortly after the incident.
To make matters even worse, the delay in action seemingly halted Edmonton’s momentum, giving Anaheim what amounted to a free timeout. Just 59 seconds later, Cutter Gauthier would score the game-winning goal for the Ducks.
Rogers Place is weirdly no stranger to food being thrown on the ice and affecting play, as just last season, a full tray of nachos was chucked over the glass during an Oilers game against the Washington Capitals. Just moments after the chips landed in the Caps’ defensive zone, Corey Perry rifled a one-timer past goaltender Logan Thompson.
“Yeah, I’ve never seen that before,” Thompson said, amused. “Obviously, I gotta play to the whistle. That one’s on me. I talked to them earlier. I don’t know what the official ruling on that is. But yeah, just play to the whistle, obviously, if there’s stuff on the ice.”
Oilers fans have also previously thrown slabs of raw Alberta beef onto the ice during past playoff runs.
If Oilers fans aren’t soon stopped from bringing food to games, it appears a full six-course meal could find its way onto the team’s playing surface.
