The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate a solid win Monday night with a shaky tweet:
Hockey Town. pic.twitter.com/RYg9w8yN9G
— Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) April 16, 2019
Even though Detroit misses the playoffs for a third straight season, that's still a stretch too far.
Raleigh's team, behind 2-1 as it heads into Thursday's game against the Washington Capitals, draws a whistle from Detroit fans for attempted theft of a nickname.
When paired with the Wings' logo, Hockeytown has been a registered team trademark since June 1998. The Hurricanes' two-word version without a winged wheel isn't a legal infringement, but amounts to a penalty-worthy shot. "Those are fighting words," warns Matthew Siroskey of Wyandotte.
Even the Wings respond, adding a puzzled-face emoji as the team retweets Carolina's post.
These are among fan reactions:
How many cups?
— Unholy Kev (@xkmhx) April 16, 2019
@NHLCanes Dont get carried away. There is only one Hockeytown. pic.twitter.com/bnyulAlq4I
— Paul Wealleans (@bythelake6) April 16, 2019
In your dreams Carolina
— Nicole (@nic1202ole) April 16, 2019
Yeah Carolina don’t get carried away...you’ve been to hockeytown and played the red wings but that’s about as far as that goes
— Rob (@robmc313) April 16, 2019
You're 683 miles too far, 58 Hall of Fame players, 30 championship trophies, 11 Stanley Cups, and 93 years too late, but dream on little ones.
— Old School (@Detroit_7_23_67) April 16, 2019
— El Cucuy©️ (@Detoxx03) April 16, 2019