Rod Brind’ Amour defends Jalen Chatfield before Hurricanes rematch with Capitals

The rivalry between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Washington Capitals is heating up, with turf not only on the ice but off as well. Last week's game slowly transitioned off the ice, with the media following an intense clash between Jalen Chatfield and Connor McMichael. During discussions on the incident in the media, Coach Rod Brind' Amour of the Hurricanes decided to directly address this controversial matter, making it clear that he was most displeased with the media commentary in question.


Rod Brind' Amour doesn't take issue with the odd statement, and in the lead-up to Thursday's rematch, he had a lot to say. The viral aftermath of a hurricane-force performance by the Caps had everything from a Jalen Chatfield flourish to Connor McMichael. Brind, Amour, though, thinks that was exaggerated by the media for unnecessary drama over what should have been a run-of-the-mill little bump in the world of physical hockey.

He went on to say some choice words about the overstatements by certain members of the press on this issue and how they unfairly aimed their spears at Chatfield. In Amour's mind, such actions misinterpret the very essence of the game and misrepresent the players involved. He added that, for this kind of thing, there was absolutely nothing abnormal about it in the NHL and that it should not have been exaggerated.
Meanwhile, Capitals coach Spencer Carbery was more interested in discussing how the official scorekeepers treated the affair. According to him, more calls should have arguably come in, and as tensions were starting to boil over, it was very obvious that the absence of control from the referees had left the players to take justice into their own hands. In connection with that, he said that one considers player safety in terms of risk when the emotions run high.
Nevertheless, none of it seems to matter because Jalen Chatfield never heard from the NHL Department of Player Safety, reiterating that no formal rules were violated against him.
Also Read: The Legacy of Rod Brind’Amour – How the Head Coach Has Transformed the Carolina Hurricanes Culture
Going into Thursday's game, the second meeting for both teams at the Capital One Arena holds more than simple stakes for the regular season. With the playoffs looming and tensions already high, the history and emotions from the previous week's game are sure to spill over. For Carolina, the focus will be to stay strong on the ice and move on from distractions off the ice. For Rod Amour, protecting his players is perhaps the first stride toward propagating their playoff dreams.