A late game between the New York Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night ended with a heated exchange after the final horn, sparked by a controversial play. The Red Wings secured a 2-1 victory over the Rangers, but the game's final moments were overshadowed by a bench-clearing scrum ignited by Rangers' goalie Jonathan Quick's reaction to a perceived disrespectful play.

With the clock expired, Red Wings forward Mason Appleton shot the puck into the empty Rangers net. Quick took exception to Appleton's shot, feeling it was an unnecessary gesture. He skated out to confront Appleton, which led to players from both sides flooding the ice, resulting in a scrum.

"Yeah, you guys all saw it," Quick said when asked about the incident after the game. "The horn goes a couple seconds and shoots like that, so, you know, I don't know why they're surprised. It's usually the response when something like that happens. So, boys jumped in, did the right thing". Quick also stated, "No, it's a complete separate issue from the 60 minutes that took place, and then the couple seconds, and then he shoots it right. That's just that".

Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin was seen attempting to defuse the situation, guiding players toward their respective locker rooms in an effort to calm tensions. Despite Larkin's efforts, Quick remained visibly upset as he was escorted off the ice.

The game itself saw Lucas Raymond scoring the game-winning goal for the Red Wings in the third period, with Alex DeBrincat also contributing a goal. Goalie Cam Talbot of the Red Wings faced 19 shots, saving 18. Jonathan Quick was kept busy, stopping 40 of 42 shots, but it wasn't enough to secure a win for the Rangers. Quick's record is now 3-2-0, with a 1.42 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage.

The Rangers have struggled at home this season, with a 1-7-1 record at Madison Square Garden. The loss to the Red Wings marked the end of the Rangers' three-game winning streak.

Social media has been abuzz with reactions to the incident, with some fans criticizing Quick's behavior. Some fans called the Rangers "sore losers" and deemed Quick's actions "embarrassing". Others suggested Quick should potentially face suspension for leaving the bench to engage in the altercation.

The Red Wings are scheduled to play the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, while the Rangers will face the Vegas Golden Knights.