There were two incidents in the Edmonton Oilers 5-3 win over the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night that could well see the NHL hand out fines today, one incident involving Connor McDavid, the other Leon Draisaitl.
I suggest fines here because there’s little chance either incident will rise to the level of suspension, given the NHL’s track record and the severity of the two incidents.
In the game’s second period, Marcus Johansson of the Wild was covering McDavid, who cycled high near the offensive blueline with the puck, then laid it off with a backhand pass to Draisaitl. Just then, Johansson moved toward McDavid. McDavid clipped him in the face with an elbow on the way by.
In McDavid’s defence, the elbow appeared to be a light one, and it might also well have been reflexive and protective, as this is the kind of play where McDavid is regularly hammered hard with a check after he’s passed the puck. The NHL tends to allow that kind of late hit.
It’s also the case that there are more hard physical plays, including hits to the head, most games that the NHL never takes a look at.
If Johansson had bounced right up after the hit, it’s likely no one would be talking about it today. But he left the game with injury.
The second incident in the Wild game is also the second incident of an Oilers star having his feet kicked out from under him in two games. First it was Adrian Kempe of Los Angeles slew footing McDavid in Monday’s game, which saw Kempe get a $5000 suspension from NHL Player Safety.
This time it was noted Wild agitator Ryan Hartman kicking the skates out from under Draisaitl in the third period, doing so right in front of the referee but receiving no penalty, just as Kempe also received no penalty.
Hartman’s play was flagrant and exceedingly dangerous.
We shall see what happens with the NHL today but perhaps the league might well consider a memo for referees to keep a much closer eye out for slew foot players. The fact that both incidents were unpenalized during the games is unacceptable.
At the Cult of Hockey
LEAVINS: Player grades in come-from-behind win over the Wild