MacKinnon Ejection Sparks Controversy in Oilers’ Victory Over Avalanche
The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 on Tuesday night in a game marred by a controversial penalty call that saw Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon ejected. The incident, occurring with 37 seconds remaining in the second period, has ignited debate among coaches, players and fans alike.
The Incident and Penalty
Whereas on a power play, MacKinnon attempted to tip a pass from Brock Nelson near the net. Before MacKinnon could make contact with the puck, Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse collided with him, driving MacKinnon into Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram. Ingram sustained a cut on his forehead and was replaced by Tristan Jarry.
Officials assessed MacKinnon a major penalty for interference on the goaltender, resulting in an automatic game misconduct. The call was upheld after video review.
Coaches Weigh In
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar vehemently disagreed with the penalty call. “There’s no chance that he hits the goalie if Nurse doesn’t run into him,” Bednar stated. “I don’t care if he’s injured or not injured, it’s not a penalty. If you put guys in your own goalie, it’s not a penalty.”
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledged the difficulty of the call, stating, “Obviously, you have to protect your goalies. It wasn’t on purpose, but you have to be careful with goaltenders. Obviously, they lost a quality player.” He also noted that Ingram was being evaluated under the NHL’s concussion protocol but was reportedly feeling well after the game.
Player Reactions
Colorado defenseman Cale Makar expressed bewilderment at the call, stating that MacKinnon has “some of the best spatial awareness in the league” and wouldn’t intentionally interfere with the goalie. Avalanche center Nazem Kadri felt MacKinnon made an effort to avoid contact with Ingram, noting that the rule requires a player to attempt to avoid such collisions.
Bednar further criticized the officiating, suggesting inconsistencies in penalty calls throughout the game, particularly regarding slashes and trips.
Game Outcome
Despite killing off the five-minute major penalty, the Avalanche ultimately lost the game 4-3, with Connor McDavid scoring the game-winning goal for the Oilers on a power play in the third period. Tristan Jarry stopped 11 of 12 shots after replacing Ingram.
Looking Ahead
The controversy surrounding MacKinnon’s ejection is likely to continue as the NHL season progresses, raising questions about the interpretation of goalie interference rules and the impact of collisions initiated by defensive players. The incident underscores the challenges faced by officials in making split-second decisions in a fast-paced game.