The Edmonton Oilers snagged a crucial win against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night, edging them out 4-3 in a game that didn't lack drama. The victory, however, was overshadowed by a controversial moment that had fans and analysts buzzing.
Three Oilers players exited the game due to injuries, including goalie Connor Ingram, who found himself on the receiving end of a collision with Nathan MacKinnon in the second period. The hit was deemed goalie interference, and the officials went a step further, hitting MacKinnon with a major penalty and ejecting him from the game. This decision sparked a heated debate over whether the major penalty was justified.
The incident unfolded when Darnell Nurse made contact with MacKinnon, sending him into Ingram. This detail has some pointing fingers at the Oilers' defenseman, including Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, who didn't hold back in his post-game comments.
“I really don’t care if the goalie is hurt. That’s on their defenseman, not on our guy,” Bednar said emphatically.
“There’s no way he hits the goalie if Nurse doesn’t run into him. If you push players into your own goalie, it’s not a penalty, that’s my take.”
Bednar argued that the replay clearly showed MacKinnon's skates were angled away from the Oilers' net before Nurse's contact.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed that Ingram was pulled from the game due to the concussion protocol, but couldn’t provide an update on his condition afterward. It remains uncertain if Ingram will be ready for Friday’s matchup against the Dallas Stars.
In addition to Ingram, the Oilers are also awaiting updates on defenseman Ty Emberson and forward Colton Dach, both of whom left the game with injuries. As the Oilers look to build on this win, they'll be hoping for good news on the injury front.