SEATTLE — Nathan MacKinnon did get an apology, sort of, from the NHL after all.
The league rescinded MacKinnon’s game misconduct from Tuesday night, the Colorado Avalanche star told The Denver Post on Thursday morning.
“I think (general manager Chris MacFarland) asked them to review it, from what I know, and they took it away,” MacKinnon said. “Mistakes happen.”
MacKinnon was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct late in the second period of Colorado’s 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers at Ball Arena after he collided with goaltender Connor Ingram.
While the NHL’s decision doesn’t change anything about Tuesday night, it is an important distinction for MacKinnon moving forward.
According to NHL rule 23.6, “any player who incurs a total of two game misconduct penalties in the “Physical Infractions Category,” before playing in 41 consecutive regular season league games without such penalty, shall be suspended automatically for the next league game of his team. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty, the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game.”
Mikko Rantanen is the most recent player who was suspended for a game because of the policy. Rantanen was assessed two game misconducts in a three-game span earlier this season and was suspended for Dallas’ next contest.
The physical infractions category includes boarding, charging, checking from behind, clipping, elbowing, head-butting, interference and kneeing. MacKinnon’s game misconduct counter is now reset to zero, for the purposes of rule 23.6.
How the play happened
MacKinnon was driving to the net near the right post for a cross-ice pass from Brock Nelson. Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse met MacKinnon at the edge of the crease and made contact with the Avs star.
MacKinnon then crashed into Ingram, causing an injury that forced the goaltender from the game. After a lengthy review, the officials confirmed the major interference penalty. He was also assessed a game misconduct because of the injury to Ingram, who left the game and did not return.
“I just assumed they wanted to review it and that’s why they gave the five, and then I thought I’d be back on the ice for a power play,” MacKinnon said. “I knew I got hit. There’s a picture of me with my skates going above the crease. So I got hit. Nurse made a good play on the puck and hit me after. There was nothing I could do.”
The Avs were able to kill off the major penalty against MacKinnon and tie the game in the third period, but Connor McDavid scored with 10:57 remaining and the home team was unable to mount another comeback.
After the loss, Avs coach Jared Bednar said the play should not have been a penalty of any kind, let alone a major infraction and a game misconduct.
“Like I said, mistakes happen. They know they made a mistake and that’s why they took away the five,” MacKinnon said. “Obviously, I wasn’t doing anything on purpose. I was playing the puck and I got hit.
“It was bizarre, especially when you know you didn’t do anything wrong.”
FOOTNOTES: Defenseman Nick Blankenburg will make his Avalanche debut Thursday night against the Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. Blankenburg was acquired March 4 from the Nashville Predators for a 2027 fifth-round pick. Colorado will play Seattle with 11 forwards and seven defensemen because Ross Colton, injured Tuesday against Edmonton, is not available and the Avs decided against calling up a forward from the Colorado Eagles.
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