Pavel Datsyuk.

The Detroit Red Wings’ game against the Chicago Blackhawks was delayed Saturday after an octopus thrown on the ice following a goal swallowed forward Pavel Datsyuk.

It took trainers nearly three hours to extricate Datsyuk, who was celebrating his 11th goal of the season when the visibly irritated invertebrate landed on the ice and almost instantly cornered the Russian center.

“It happened so quickly,” Datsyuk said afterwards, covered in slime. “In retrospect, I’m not even certain how fans got a live animal that large past security, much less over the glass.”

It’s long been a tradition for fans to throw octopuses on the ice to celebrate goals in Detroit, and Resident octo-wrangler Teddy Davis said it was just another day at the office.

“We try to tell the guys not to bother them once they’re on the ice,” he said. “Pavel’s always been the curious one. That’ll learn him.”