Once Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse has lowered his shoulder and slid into contact, where else was Nathan MacKinnon supposed to go? Other than straight into Connor Ingram?
Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche handles the puck during the first period against the Edmonton Oilers at Ball Arena on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. “The goalie’s hurt, so it’s five ?” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar groused after Colorado lost MacKinnon to a game misconduct ejection and went on to lose to the Oilers, 4-3, late Tuesday night.
“I really don’t give a crap if their goalie’s hurt. That’s on their D-man. Not our guy.” Darn straight. With 37 seconds left in the second period of Avs-Oilers at Ball Arena, all holy heck broke loose. With Colorado on a power play, MacKinnon took a cross-ice pass from Brock Nelson near the right face-off circle. The Avs center built up his usual head of steam into the crease.In a flash, the Avs veteran flew right into a sprawling, helpless Ingram, who recoiled at the contact. The Edmonton goalie collapsed into his own net. He suffered a cut on his forehead and eventually left the game under his own power. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said later that league concussion protocol prevented Ingram from re-entering the game. A lengthy replay review ensued, one that even included the zebras bringing a small tablet into the penalty box where MacKinnon was seated, waiting to hear his fate. The whole scene became surreal. Only not as surreal as the verdict: A major penalty and a game misconduct for goalie interference. “Nate’s got some of the best spatial awareness in the league,” Avs defenseman Cale Makar told reporters later. “He’s not going to cut into the goalie like that.” It’s a 2-minute minor for Nate Dogg and an unfortunate break for Ingram. Because if Nurse doesn’t put his head into MacKinnon’s hip in the first place, MacKinnon doesn’t ding Ingram in the head. Now let’s make this clear, first and foremost: Head injuries are no laughing matter. Hockey isn’t a contact sport. It’s a collision one. Rules that protect defenseless players should be followed and enforced to the letter of the law.At game speed. given MacKinnon’s prodigious pace, it looks like one of those nasty, old-school special teams collisions that the NFL has tried to legislate out of its game. But then watch it slowed down. Watch Nurse, No. 25 in white. Watch MacKinnon’s feet right before the defender makes contact. Then watch his sudden change of direction almost immediately afterward as he goes flying into oblivion.1. Where was the intent to injure Ingram? MacKinnon doesn’t exactly have a rep of needing to run over goalies to score. 2. Once Nurse has lowered his shoulder and slid into contact, where else was MacKinnon supposed to go? The D-man was on his back. Any backpedaling option was blocked. Thanks to Nurse, the only available path was forward — straight into the goaltender.Keeler: If J.K. Dobbins is Broncos’ Plan A, Bo Nix deserves better Plan B than RJ Harvey, Tyler BadieKeeler: Avalanche hero Nazem Kadri just made Nathan MacKinnon smile like it’s 2022 all over again Keeler: CSU Rams legend David Roddy’s advice for Rams star Kyle Jorgensen amid transfer rumors: ‘NBA will find you’ “I think Nate makes an effort,” Avs forward Nazem Kadri told reporters after the game. “He’s diving across the top of the crease to try to get out of the way. That’s part of the rule, for the player to at least make some sort of attempt.“It was a great game up until that . I think it was a good battle out there. Players were playing hard and it’s unfortunate that’s how it’s got to end.” It’s unfortunate that, in a nationally televised game featuring MacKinnon and the Oilers’ Connor McDavid, the officials somehow decided to make it about them. “ explanation we got from the refs was that didn’t nudge him enough into the goalie. he was taking his route there already,” Makar told reporters. “Obviously, there’s a lot of gray area in that.”Jeep driver in serious condition after semi loses brakes, smashes vehicle into Littleton gas stationDeadly car explosion at Colorado mountain trailhead under investigationColorado agriculture officials warn of 'strange' seed packages in mailDIA braces for spring surge as shutdown leaves TSA security officers unpaidColorado residents should prepare for Xcel power outages this week as fire danger surges, utility says
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