New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Travis Hamonic (52) tussle after the conclusion of the game at Madison Square Garden. John Jones-Imagn Images

Chaos unfolds as benches empty following Rangers-Red Wings game

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Nov 16, 2025 11:26 PM ET

The Detroit Red Wings were 2-1 winners over the New York Rangers on Sunday night in a game they completely controlled from start to finish. What is going to get most of the headlines from this game, however, is what happened after the game ended.

Red Wings-Rangers benches empty after shot at empty net

Chaos unfolded shortly after the final buzzer because Red Wings forward Mason Appleton shot a puck at the empty Rangers net after time had expired.

Hockey players are sometimes as protective of their unwritten rules as baseball players are, and shooting a puck at the net after a whistle or at the end of a period is something you are just not supposed to do. Not unless you want a fight on your hands.

Well, Appleton and the Red Wings ended up getting a fight, and it involved both benches.

APPLETON SHOT IT INTO THE NET AFTER THE BUZZER AND THE BENCHES CLEARED pic.twitter.com/SQAhvEADJB
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 17, 2025

The whole thing started with Rangers starting goalie Jonathan Quick coming off the bench to confront Appleton. Quick started the game and stopped 40 of 42 shots in the loss and was probably extremely frustrated with not getting the result. Seeing Appleton take that shot probably sent him over the edge.

The question of whether or not suspensions will come from this is certainly one worth looking at.

The thing that might save players, specifically Quick, is that players typically to leave the bench area to go to the locker rooms at Madison Square Garden as the locker room tunnels are not directly behind the benches.

Either way, it was a chaotic end to a game between two Original Six franchises with an old-school finish.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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