Oilers’ Connor McDavid Suspended for Game 5 vs. Golden Knights; HC Jay Woodcroft Fined.
The NHL Department of Player Safety declared on Thursday that defender connor-mcdavid- of the Edmonton Oilers will miss Game 5 of the team’s second-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights due to his inciting of a fight in Game 4 on Wednesday.
Coach of the Oilers Jay Woodcroft also received a $10,000 punishment.
In Game 4, Nurse was given two minutes for inciting, five minutes for serious fighting, and ten minutes for misconduct after sparring with Vegas’ Nicolas Hague at 19:10 in the third period.
With a 4-1 victory, the Oilers levelled the second-round series at 2-2.
The Oilers are dealt a serious blow by the nurse’s suspension. According to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, Golden Knights captain Mark Stone stated following the game that Hague requested the fight prior to the faceoff.
Throughout the tournament, Nurse has been the team’s most used defenseman, averaging 23 minutes and 24 seconds on the ice while contributing four points in 10 games. Since entering the league full-time during the 2015–16 season, the 27-year-old has also been among the team’s finest defensemen, scoring a career-high 43 points this year.
Given that Nurse will not be playing in Game 5, Mattias Ekholm is expected to start in the first pairing with Cody Ceci. On defence, Philip Broberg might also be added to the starting lineup, most likely in the third pairing.
Nurse is not the only player who might face a ban; Alex Pietrangelo of the Golden Knights might also face one after being sent off in Game 4 for a vicious hit on Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl.
Late in the third period, Draisaitl had a chance to score on an empty net, but Pietrangelo moved across the ice, raised his stick, and struck the Edmonton star in the arm.
Pietrangelo’s hearing with the Department of Player Safety regarding the slash is set for this Thursday.
The Oilers and Golden Knights will play Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Friday. The victor will drive its rival dangerously close to elimination.
