The end of Wednesday’s clash between the Edmonton Oilers and the Vegas Golden Knights was turbulent to say the least. This means that the two teams could lose defender number 1 in the next game.
Thanks to an impressive display from Stuart Skinner between the posts and a team effort up front, the Alberta team prevailed 4-1 and tied the streak in the second round.
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The game took a fairly predictable turn as the final minutes of the third period ticked by. Like the second game in the series, in which 124 penalty minutes were imposed, the duel did not end very harmoniously.
Defender Alex Pietrangelo, who is on the ice averaging 24:36 per game, caused a stir with a vicious two-handed jab at Leon Draisaitl. He must also explain his actions to the NHL Disciplinary Committee.
The gesture of frustration angered the Oilers, especially as the German star has dominated the tournament with 13 goals since the start of the playoffs.
“In any case, we would like the gesture to be revised after the duel with Connor McDavid, whose comments were picked up by the ESPN network. I would like a ban to be imposed. It was intended to hurt. It wasn’t a hockey gesture.
Head coach Jay Woodcroft agreed, although he was more nuanced to avoid breaking the bank.
“If you were to ask my opinion on this game, I would say that I don’t consider it a gesture of hockey either. But I won’t tell you more.”
McDavid and Woodcroft’s wish has been granted as Pietrangelo has to explain himself to the player security department.
Maintain in hot water
The Oilers may have to defend on the blue line without their general.
Seconds after Pietrangelo’s stick, Darnell Nurse charged at large format defender Nicolas Hague. The two giants put up a hard fight.
The only problem: If Nurse starts a fight in the last five minutes of the game, he should technically be banned for a game as per the Bettman Circuit rulebook.
“I watched the game and saw Darnell arguing but their player took his gloves off first,” Woodcroft said. In my opinion, the two athletes agreed. It’s not like any of them were hiding for protection.”
“I think it all started with [Hague] who removed his gloves and struck the first eight punches.”
If Nurse is suspended, the Oilers could field Philip Broberg, Cam Dineen, Philip Kemp or Markus Niemelainen.
Lukas Cormier, Ben Hutton, Kaedan Korczak, Dysin Mayo and Brayden Pachal are the Blue Line substitutes for the Golden Knights.
TVA Sports will broadcast Game 5 at 10pm on Friday.