Greg WyshynskiMar 11, 2026, 02:14 AM ETCloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.Follow on XMultiple Authors
The Colorado Avalanche sharply disagreed with the officials’ decision to give star center Nathan MacKinnon a game misconduct for goalie interference in their 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.
With 37 seconds left in the second period and Colorado on a power play, MacKinnon went hard to the net as Brock Nelson sent him a pass. As MacKinnon tipped the puck wide, Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse dove into him, with his head connecting on MacKinnon’s hip. MacKinnon barreled into Oilers goalie Connor Ingram, knocking him to the ice. Ingram would skate off on his own with a cut on his forehead.
The officials gave MacKinnon a major penalty for interference on the goaltender, which carries an automatic game misconduct, and upheld that call after video review. Ingram was replaced by Tristan Jarry, who stopped 11 of 12 shots in the Oilers’ win.
“There’s no chance that he hits the goalie if Nurse doesn’t run into him,” said Avalanche coach Jared Bednar. “I don’t care if he’s injured or not injured, it’s a severe crash or not a severe crash. It’s not a penalty. If you put guys in your own goalie, it’s not a penalty.”
Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said Ingram wasn’t allowed back into the game due to the NHL’s concussion protocol, but noted he was feeling well after the game.
The Avalanche would kill off the 5-minute major given to MacKinnon but eventually lost the game on a power-play goal by Oilers star Connor McDavid in the third period.
“Obviously you have to protect your goalies. It wasn’t on purpose, but you have to be careful with goaltenders. Obviously, they lost a good player,” he said.
“The goalie’s hurt, so it’s five [minutes]? I really don’t give a crap if their goalie’s hurt. That’s on their D-men, not on our guy,” he said.
“Nate’s got some of the best spatial awareness in the league. He’s not going to cut into the goalie like that,” said defenseman Cale Makar. “Explanation we got from the refs was that [Nurse] didn’t nudge him enough.”
Both Bednar and Kadri were critical of the officiating overall in the game, especially in the third period.
Greg WyshynskiMar 11, 2026, 02:14 AM ETCloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Knoblauch said the MacKinnon penalty was a “difficult one” for the officials to make.
MacKinnon’s teammates said they were also baffled by the call.
Center Nazem Kadri felt MacKinnon made an effort to avoid Ingram.
CloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.Follow on X