Connor McDavid was not happy in the Oilers postgame dressing room in Nashville on Tuesday night.
A 2-1 loss to the Predators makes it three straight defeats for Edmonton, seven in the last eight games, despite a monster effort by McDavid.
But what really had the Oilers captain upset was an offsides call -- really, the rule itself -- that cost his team the tying goal with 5:04 remaining in regulation.
"We battled back hard and found a way to tie up the game, and the guy's an arm hair offside and they call it back," offered McDavid. "It's obviously hard to agree with the rule and the video challenge."
Oilers goal overturned after Preds challenged for offside, two looks (r @brolo397) pic.twitter.com/b5v1vKhA9i
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) January 10, 2018
McDavid was just getting warmed up on the topic, delivering his thoughts in typical measured tones.
"I ultimately feel they should just take the rule out," McDavid explained. "The number of calls that are a millimeter offside 45 seconds before the play don't have much of an effect on the goal itself. i think the fans want to see the offense."
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Mark Letestu banged in a rebound at 14:56 of the third period, seemingly tying the game 2-2, after strong work by Ryan Strome. As the Oilers celebrated, Predators coach Peter Laviolette challenged the play, prompted by his video coach that Edmonton's Jujhar Khaira was a fraction ahead of the puck over the blue line on the Oilers entry. Video review overturned the on-ice goal call, based on Khaira's back skate just barely lifting off the ice with his front skate already over the blue line.
Photo not great but shows @jujhar94 has the back foot up which means offside. No goal for @EdmontonOilers Mark Letestu. Still 2-1 @PredsNHL pic.twitter.com/C4zo2iKQ9Q
— Gene Principe (@GenePrincipe) January 10, 2018
By the letter of the law, offsides. By any common sense standard, inconsequential and the goal should stand.
"It's something I hope they take out," McDavid calmly said of this particular offsides rule.
Oilers coach Todd McLellan chose not to say too much about the call that likely cost his desperate team at least one point Wednesday.
"Offside is offside, that's what the rule is for and apparently (Khaira) picked his foot up, that's a tough one," stated McLellan.
McDavid scored his 15th goal 45 seconds into the middle period, cutting Nashville's 2-0 lead in half. The reigning league MVP played a dynamic game, leading all skaters with six shots on goal and 10 shot attempts while logging a whopping 24:11 worth of ice time.
If Connor McDavid has a step on you, watch out... 🚨 pic.twitter.com/H4zZMCEA9r
— NBCSN (@NBCSN) January 10, 2018
Edmonton's four-game road trip continues Friday in the desert with a tilt against the Coyotes and concludes Saturday in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights.