Fans rip into Jennifer Botterill after a heated exchange with Kevin Bieksa on Hockey Night in Canada

On Saturday, Hockey Night in Canada hosts Jennifer Botterill and Kevin Bieksa got into a heated debate over a controversial hit, sparking a larger conversation about safety and physicality in the NHL.

The incident started when Penguins forward Noel Acciari checked Canadiens' star Juraj Slafkovsky, who was reaching for a loose puck in a vulnerable position. While Acciari tried to avoid hitting him high, it was hard to miss his head entirely since Slafkovsky was bent over. The Canadiens weren't happy about the play, though the NHL Department of Player Safety chose not to fine or suspend Acciari.

But he didn't go without a response. In the last seconds of the game, Canadiens' enforcer Arber Xhekaj made his feelings known with a hard hit on Acciari, sending a message back to the Penguins.

Kevin Bieksa supported Xhekaj's move, saying it was the right time for payback. Although critical of Montreal's performance this season, he praised Xhekaj's choice to stand up for his teammate.

Botterill disagreed, insisting that hockey doesn't have to be «eye-for-an-eye» anymore and that the sport is moving past this mentality.

Despite Botterill's stance, most of the panel sided with Bieksa. Former player Luke Gazdic added his perspective, pointing out how intense the emotions run in these situations.

Fans also agreed with Bieksa and some even called for Botterill to be taken off of Hockey Night in Canada, take a look:

The lack of fines or suspensions for either side in this game suggests the NHL might lean toward Bieksa and Gazdic's view. However, fans often criticize the NHL's Department of Player Safety for inconsistent rulings, and this incident only adds to that perception.