Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse is facing a one-game suspension after receiving an instigator penalty late in his team’s 4-1 win in Game 4 Wednesday.
With the game out of reach both teams engaged in some rough play after whistles. Nurse fought Vegas defenceman Nicolas Hague in the final minute of the game as part of those altercations and was given an instigator penalty on the play. According to Rule 46.21, Nurse will be suspended one game pending a review because the instigator penalty occurred in the final five minutes of the game or overtime.
Additionally, Rule 46.21 states Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft will be fined $10,000 if the suspension is upheld.
After the game, Woodcroft said he thought the fight was between two willing combatants.
“It’s not like somebody was turtled up in a ball,” Woodcroft said. “I believe it started with (Hague), he had his gloves off first and threw the first eight punches.”
The two teams combined for 111 penalty minutes in the game, including a violent slash by Vegas defenceman Alex Pietrangelo on Oilers leading scorer Leon Draisaitl that resulted in Pietrangelo receiving a game misconduct.
The series is now tied 2-2 and Game 5 is scheduled for Friday night in Vegas on Sportsnet and SN NOW.
