Michael McCarron apparently handed a fan $20 through a hole in the glass Saturday, after knocking over the guy's beer earlier in the night.
No camera crew, no press release. Just a quick fix for a ruined drink, slipped through the glass like a tip left on a diner counter.
That fan will tell this story for the rest of his life. Most people leave a game with a puck if they're lucky, and this guy left with a refund.
It's also very hockey. The sport's reputation for players with real class away from the spotlight gets built on moments exactly like this one.
And it came from McCarron, of all people. He's the big, physical forward who's supposed to make life miserable for opponents.
The biggest, toughest guys in this league are so often the softest touch off the ice. This was one more reminder.
The game itself went Minnesota's way, a 5-1 win in Seattle. McCarron logged 15:11 and took a minor penalty.
The Wild carry a feel-good moment into Vancouver on Sunday
Blake Coleman scored twice, including the winner, and Kirill Kaprizov added a goal and an assist.
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The win snapped a two-game slide. John Hynes' group now sits 7-3-2.
McCarron has five points this season on a $3,333,333 cap hit. Saturday, the best thing he did never showed up on the scoresheet.
The NHL should push moments like this harder than any highlight goal. Twenty bucks through the glass sells the game better than any slick ad campaign.
Sunday brings Quinn Hughes' return to Vancouver, with his future in Minnesota still undecided. The spotlight shifts fast in this league.
So will the fan frame the bill, or spend it on another beer?
Either way, there'll be plenty of drinks sitting near the glass in Vancouver. McCarron might want to keep his wallet handy.
Should the NHL reward Michael McCarron's $20 gesture with a special recognition?
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