Oilers Vasily Podkolzin game misconduct against Ducks, Digi Mart USA News: Vasily Podkolzin came to his captain’s defence on Thursday, but ended up with a game misconduct for his efforts.
Podkolzin was ejected from the Edmonton Oilers’ game against the Anaheim Ducks midway through the first period. He received the misconduct for fighting Drew Helleson, who had checked Connor McDavid into the Anaheim net.
The play came with just under 12 minutes remaining in the period as McDavid drove to the Ducks crease before Helleson bumped the Oilers captain into the post. McDavid stayed down on the ice as players from both teams converged.
Podkolzin then found Helleson in the scrum, starting the fight. The 25-year-old winger was then assessed a two-minute instigator and a five-minute fighting major, along with the game misconduct.
Helleson received two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct. McDavid eventually went down the tunnel, but did return to the game.
Cutter Gauthier went on to score the game’s opening goal on Anaheim’s ensuing five-minute power play.
