5 Crazy Moments from the NHL Playoffs So Far

By Taylor Landau

Playoff hockey is a different breed. The stakes are higher, the crowds are louder, and the game becomes even more intense. All of this leads to some pretty crazy moments on the ice, and even though the first round isn’t over yet, we’ve already had our fair share. Let’s take a look at some of the craziest, weirdest, and all-around strangest moments to come out of the 2023 NHL Playoffs thus far.

1. Morgan Barron returns to Game 1 with 75 stitches.

Morgan Barron of the Winnipeg Jets takes a skate to the face during Game 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights (photos via the New York Post and USA Today).

It was a scary sight during the first game of the Winnipeg Jets vs. Vegas Golden Knights series when forward Morgan Barron got shoved into Laurent Broissoit’s skate during a frenzy in front of the net and sliced open the side of his face. Barron looked a little dazed as Chandler Stephenson, who originally (and accidentally) shoved him down, pulled him up off the ground and checked to see if he was alright. Barron ended up going down the tunnel, and everyone was shocked to see when he returned to the game sporting a full cage and a gnarly cut down the side of his face. The blade just barely missed his right eye, and reporters later confirmed he needed 75 stitches to patch up the injury. The craziest part? When asked about what he was thinking when the incident happened, Barron said, “I was trying to figure out if the puck went in cause it was sitting pretty close.” Hockey players are a different breed, man.

2. Sebastian Aho vs. Sebastian Aho

Sebastian Aho (left) and Sebastian Aho (right) in the penalty box during Tuesday night's game (photo via Spittin Chiclets on Twitter).

It’s already weird enough that there are two different players named Sebastian Aho in the NHL, but it’s even funnier watching them in a playoff series against each other. Within the first few games, there were already several instances of Sebastian Aho on Sebastian Aho crime with the two of them laying some big hits on each other during the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders series. They also both (sort of) scored goals on their own respective teams, which led to lots of jokes on social media. To make things even better, during Game 5 on Tuesday night, both of them ended up in the penalty box at the same time. I’m not sure what kinds of glitches in the simulation are causing this to happen, but I, for one, am here for it.

3. Toronto fans try to climb into the box with Tanner Jeannot.

A referee separates Tanner Jeannot of the Tampa Bay Lightning (left) from a Toronto Maple Leafs fan (wearing yellow, middle) who tried to climb in the penalty box (photo via Twitter).

Tanner Jeannot and Luke Schenn duked it out during Game 2 of the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning series last Thursday, and Jeannot ended up in the penalty box. I’m not sure exactly what was going through this man's head, or how many beers he may have had, but a fan in a bright neon yellow sweatshirt tried to climb into the Lightning’s penalty box to get to Jeannot. I’m still wondering what the goal was there. Did he think he could fight Jeannot? Did he want to give him a piece of his mind? Whatever the reason was, he was later escorted out by security, along with several other fans who were shouting at Jeannot and throwing things into the box and on the ice. Toronto and Tampa games are always intense, but Game 2 nearly got out of hand.

4. Two goals were scored off of somebody else’s face on the same night.

Sebastian Aho (left) and Zach Hyman (right) both took pucks to the face on Tuesday night that led to goals during their respective series.

In the playoffs, you’ll take a goal however you can get it, and sometimes that leads to some... unique plays. During Game 5 of the Hurricanes vs. Islanders series, the Islanders scored their second goal of the night after a shot deflected off of the face of Sebastian Aho (the Hurricanes one) and was batted into the net by Brock Nelson. Aho spent the rest of the game with a bloody, stitched-up lip, and the Islanders ultimately won the game. Later that night during Game 5 of the Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings series, a shot deflected off Zach Hyman’s face into the goal to extend the Oilers’ substantial lead. It’s already a weird way to score a goal, but the fact that it happened twice is definitely a strange coincidence. These two teams are definitely facing the playoffs head-on, and I guess you could say these goals were scored off the faceoff…

5. Brandon Tanev blows a kiss to a Colorado Avalanche fan.

Brandon Tanev of the Seattle Kraken (right) blows a kiss to a Colorado Avalanche fan sitting behind the glass (photo via Emerald City Hockey on Twitter).

One of the most entertaining parts of hockey is the goal celebrations. Last Thursday, the Seattle Kraken were up 1-0 against the Colorado Avalanche and ended up on the penalty kill. Brandon Tanev managed to get ahold of the puck and turned and scored a shorthanded goal. When all was said and done, he turned around to the Avalanche fans seated at the glass and blew them a kiss. The best part? The lady who actually blew a kiss back.

The playoffs are far from over, and I’m sure we’ll see more antics before the first round is over. What was your favorite moment from the playoffs so far?