A Detroit fan threw an octopus on the ice in Boston at the worst possible time
It's tradition for Detroit Red Wings fans to throw an octopus on the ice at home when the Red Wings are winning, but with the Red Wings and Boston Bruins locked in a tight playoff battle, one Red Wings fan decided to take that tradition on the road in Boston Thursday night.
Unfortunately for that fan, the Red Wings lost, 5-2, but if you're going to bring an octopus to a hockey game, you might as well throw it anyway. That's exactly what the fan did with his team down, 5-1, in the third period.
Although security condones octopus-throwing in Detroit, the people at the TD Garden in Boston are not as friendly when it comes to eight-armed sea animals, and the fan was promptly kicked out of the Garden.
Thursday's Red Wings loss also spelled bad news for Detroit's playoff hopes, as the Wings failed to clinch a spot in the playoffs by virtue of Thursday's loss. Their playoff hopes are still alive, but the playoff picture is growing more complicated by the day.
The Red Wings, Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers are all duking it out for two Eastern Conference playoff spots. Both Detroit and Philadelphia still control their own destiny, but the pressure will be on in their closing games. The Red Wings are into the postseason if they win their final game on Saturday against the New York Rangers. The Flyers will have to win their final two games to make the postseason.
The Bruins will need help to make the playoffs. Although Thursday's win prevented the Red Wings from clinching outright, Boston still needs to win its final game and needs any kind of loss (overtime or regulation) from the Red Wings against the Rangers.
It all makes for an exciting end to the regular season for fans and any octopus aspiring to become one of the few to make it to the NHL ice.
