The Oilers were able to even up their NHL playoff series with the Golden Knights via a 4-1 win on Wednesday, but Edmonton didn't come out of the game happy.
Why? Golden Knights forward Alex Pietrangelo took a cheap shot at the team's leading playoff scorer, Leon Draisaitl, late in the victory.
Pietrangelo gave Draisaitl a two-handed slash well after the Oilers forward took a shot at the empty net with under two minutes remaining in regulation.
Alex Pietrangelo gives Leon Draisaitl a two-handed slash after an empty net opportunity. pic.twitter.com/wziPdleLDx
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 11, 2023
Pietrangelo was immediately whistled for a five-minute major and given a game misconduct for his actions.
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The Vegas defenseman is scheduled to have a hearing today with the NHL Department of Player Safety, where he could face discipline for the slash.
The Oilers believed that Pietrangelo deserves more than just the late-game ejection, as team captain Connor McDavid explained in a postgame news conference.
"You would like to see it reviewed for sure. I'd like to see it suspended," McDavid said of Pietrangelo's slash, per ESPN. "It was as intent to injure as you can get. That was not a hockey play."
McDavid made his feelings known on the ice as well. He immediately challenged Pietrangelo after the slash and several other Oilers got into the mix as well.
Less than a minute after Vegas' alternate captain was ejected, Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse challenged Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague to a fight. Both were penalized — with Nurse picking up an extra instigator minor — and sent off with misconduct penalties.
And with 25 seconds left in regulation, Golden Knights forward Brett Howden was called for an interference penalty against Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner. He too was sent off with a misconduct penalty.
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But all of the late-game chippiness started with Pietrangelo's slash of Draisaitl. His actions will be reviewed by the NHL's Department of Player Safety and could result in a suspension.
And if Edmonton coach Jay Woodcraft and the Oilers have their way, Pietrangelo will be sidelined for what could be a pivotal Game 5 in their best-of-seven series.
"If you're asking my opinion on that play, I would not define it as a hockey play," Woodcroft said. "And I'll leave it at that."
