In the second period of Thursday's game between the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers, Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse delivered a legal check to Vancouver forward Zack MacEwen but nevertheless found himself on the losing end of that collision.
MacEwen, however, ended up the biggest loser of the moment after he attempted to strike a downed Nurse with a knee to the head:
Here was the #Canucks Zack MacEwen double minor for high-sticking #LetsGoOilers Darnell Nurse.
— Here's Your Replay ⬇️ (@HeresYourReplay) May 7, 2021
This happened before the cross-checking, stick swinging, punching incident by Nurse.
@Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/AKqM01E523
The NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Friday that MacEwen has been suspended one game and docked $7,112.07 for his actions. That fine money will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
"The concept of intentionally kneeing a vulnerable player in the head is simply unacceptable," the department explained in a video. "This is not a hockey play. And it is only because the impact of this play is so light that MacEwen is not facing a substantial suspension for this action."
The two teams meet again Saturday night.
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