Canucks' MacEwen suspended 1 game for kneeing Oilers' Nurse
Vancouver Canucks forward Zack MacEwen will sit one game for kneeing Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Friday.
MacEwen appeared to stick his knee out and clip Nurse's face while the Oilers blue-liner was down on the ice Thursday night.
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.
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"The concept of intentionally kneeing a vulnerable player in the head is simply unacceptable," the league said Friday. "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."
Nurse went after MacEwen later in the game.
GEESH
— Here's Your Replay ⬇️ (@HeresYourReplay) May 7, 2021
The beautiful game. #LetsGoOilers #Canucks
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The two players eventually decided to settle things by dropping the gloves.
YOU KNEW IT WAS COMING#LetsGoOilers Darnell Nurse and #Canucks Zack MacEwen drop the gloves.
— Here's Your Replay ⬇️ (@HeresYourReplay) May 7, 2021
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MacEwen has two points and 40 penalty minutes in 29 games this season.