After earlier Thursday suspending Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse one game for charging into a scrum and initiating a fight with Vegas defenseman Nicolas Hague during Wednesday’s Game 4, the NHL handed out more discipline Thursday night.
Vegas defenseman Alex Pietrangelo slashed Edmonton star forward Leon Draisaitl in the waning moments of the Golden Knights’ 4-1 loss. The Vegas blue-line stalwart was given a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct.
Following his vicious two-handed slash across both of Draisaitl’s wrists, the NHL announced that Pietrangelo is suspended for Game 5 of the second-round series.
Draisaitl, who was attempting to score into an empty net, was able to avoid serious injury.
Alex Pietrangelo gives Leon Draisaitl a two-handed slash after an empty net opportunity. pic.twitter.com/wziPdleLDx
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 11, 2023
After the slashing incident, absolute mayhem broke out which included Oilers star Connor McDavid going after Pietrangelo in defense of his teammate. Less than a minute later, another fracas broke out that culminated with the aforementioned fight between Nurse and Hague.
The Western Conference second-round series, which is tied 2–2, will return to action on Friday with Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
