Zack MacEwen suspended one game for kneeing Darnell Nurse

Canucks forward Zack MacEwen (71) has been suspended one game for his actions toward Oilers defensemen Darnell Nurse (25). Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Canucks' Zack MacEwen suspended one game for kneeing Oilers' Darnell Nurse

By Zac Wassink | Last updated May 7, 2021 6:12 PM ET

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.

This happened before the cross-checking, stick swinging, punching incident by Nurse.

@Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/AKqM01E523
— Here's Your Replay ⬇️ (@HeresYourReplay) May 7, 2021

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.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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