During the Pittsburgh Penguins’ loss on Sunday to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the best assist came off the ice.
The wife of an unnamed Penguins player stepped in to help remedy an unfortunate situation.
During the second period, a puck got caught in the netting of the left corner of the Penguins zone.
After several attempts, an enterprising young fan freed the puck, undoubtedly hoping to snag the game-used souvenir.
However, an older fan quickly snatched the puck away, according to Pittsburgh Hockey Now.
The outlet reports that multiple witnesses saw the older fan take the puck and give it to his adult granddaughter.
This had the entire corner section of the arena up in arms, chanting and booing at the older fan, who was wearing a blue throwback Penguins jersey with the No. 18 and MacDonald on the back — presumably for Lowell MacDonald, who played for the Pens from 1973-78.
Chants at PPG Paints Arena of “Give him the puck,” continued until the wife of a Penguins player – who was sitting in the team’s section for family a few sections over – decided to act.
According to PHN, the wife told an arena employee that she had a game puck in her locker in the family room and wanted to give it to the boy.
The employee directed an usher — who also wished to remain anonymous — to escort the wife over to the raucous section. As she greeted the lad and his mother, presenting them with a new souvenir, the crowd erupted in cheers.
The player’s wife hugged the smiling kid and his mother before returning to her seat.
If only that were the end to this story…
After the kid celebrated with raised arms, clutching his new puck, the older fan apparently felt the need to express his feelings about the situation.
The older man got up from his seat and, after having what appeared to be a heated verbal exchange with a man wearing a Sidney Crosby jersey in the front row, approached the young fan and his mother.
The usher, who was present for the entire situation, referred to the older man as “irate” as he delivered some terse words to the woman, who is seen gesturing towards to the man to take a hike before faking a punching motion.
Another fan stepped in between the two and the older man continued up the stairs, eventually escorted by the usher.
According to the outlet, the fan continued his terrible behaviour and didn’t believe he was in the wrong at all. He had a few words with an arena employee and even grabbed them by the arm on the way up the stairs.
When the older fan reached the top of the section, Pittsburgh Police were waiting. The older fan reportedly berated them too before being led away.