Cale Fleury is going to have plenty of time this season to perfect his crossword-puzzle skills—because, unfortunately, he won’t be lacing up his skates anytime soon. The Oromocto Senators’ defenseman is expected to be sidelined for two to four months after a thunderous hit from the Cains River Blues’ Erik Karlsson. The incident not only took Fleury out of the game at 13:54 of the first period, but it also earned Karlsson a five-game suspension plus an early exit courtesy of a game misconduct.
The fiasco began innocently enough—well, as innocently as a boarding penalty can be—when Fleury introduced Karlsson’s face to the plexiglass at 10:22 in the opening frame. That earned Fleury two minutes in the box (enough time for him to contemplate whether or not Karlsson was going to hold a grudge). Spoiler alert: Karlsson was definitely going to hold a grudge.
Fast-forward just a few minutes later. Karlsson, fresh off the boards and presumably fueled by the memory of Fleury’s not-so-gentle nudge, decided to take matters into his own hands. With the grace of a bull in a china shop, Karlsson charged in like he’d been dared to test the rink’s sturdiness, flattening Fleury against the boards. According to the physics department, that much force likely shifted the entire arena by a couple of inches—though nobody from the attendance of 15,000 seemed to mind the building tilt as they simultaneously gasped and cheered.
The referees, on the other hand, were somewhat less amused. They promptly awarded Karlsson a charging minor, a game misconduct, and a literal escort off the ice. Some say they saw steam coming out of Karlsson’s ears as he disappeared down the tunnel, but maybe that was just the chill of the rink.
All humor aside, it was immediately clear Fleury’s night—and possibly a chunk of his season—was over. The medical staff rushed in, and Fleury was eventually helped off the ice, looking more than a little dazed. According to early reports, doctors estimate he’ll be sidelined anywhere from two to four months, leaving the Senators with a gaping hole on their blueline and Fleury with a lot of time to analyze that play in slow motion. (“Maybe next time,” he might be thinking, “don’t poke the bear named Karlsson.”)
Despite the sensational sideshow, there was still a hockey game to play—and an important one at that. The Senators, fueled by what they’ve dubbed the “Karlsson Kronk,” pulled out a 4–3 victory over the Blues. The scoreboard might’ve said 4–3, but the real question on everyone’s mind was: “Did the boards survive the collision?”
On the offensive side, Kailer Yamamoto, Filip Forsberg, and Mason McTavish all found their way onto the scoresheet in a game that featured end-to-end action, a dash of roughing penalties, and a power-play goal for Oromocto. In total, the Senators outshot the Blues 34–24, a statistic overshadowed by the fact that one of those hits will be replayed on highlight reels (or perhaps lowlight reels) for weeks to come.
Karlsson’s five-game suspension was announced shortly after the final buzzer—a swift reaction that suggests the league is not in the mood for more flying elbows or retribution hits. Meanwhile, Fleury’s boarding penalty on Karlsson earlier might go down as one of those “Did you really need to do that?” moments. After all, if you’re going to board someone, maybe don’t pick the guy whose spirit animal is apparently a rampaging rhino.
In the wake of this heated contest, the Senators celebrated their narrow victory, though their dressing room mood was tempered by Fleury’s serious injury. The Blues, for their part, left with the sour taste of a 4–3 defeat, plus a few extra lumps to nurse. As for Karlsson? He’ll have five games to re-evaluate whether the best revenge truly is living well—or at least playing well—instead of dishing out highlight-reel bodychecks.
When the dust settles, this Game showdown will be remembered less for its final score and more for Karlsson’s ill-fated retaliation. Hockey fans love big hits, but not when they end in multi-month injuries. If there’s one lesson to glean from all this, it might be: sometimes, it’s better to let bygones be bygones—especially when the other guy is capable of flattening you like a pancake on Tuesday’s breakfast special. Get well soon, Cale. And Karlsson? Maybe try yoga next time.
1/29/2025 - 712 words
