‘It’s not a penalty’: Avalanche’s Bednar unhappy with MacKinnon’s ejection against Oilers
There are some unhappy campers with how things played out in the Mile High City on Tuesday night.
When speaking to the media after a 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar expressed his displeasure with the decision to throw star center Nathan MacKinnon out of the game.
Coach Bednar was NOT happy with how the decision was made on Nathan MacKinnon's 5 and a game... "The goalie's hurt, so it's 5. Again, I really don't give a crap if the goalie's hurt. That's on their d-man, not on our guy." Coach Jared Bednar | Full postgame presser ⬇️
“If you put guys in your own goal, it’s not a penalty,” Bednar stated.
Late in the second period, MacKinnon was driving hard to the front of the net, when he collided with Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram. Ingram was down in a heap and ended up leaving the game due to injury, and was replaced by Tristan Jarry.
MacKinnon was assessed a five-minute major for goalie interference and was handed a game misconduct.
Nathan MacKinnon has received a five-minute major following a scary collision with Connor Ingram. Tristan Jarry has entered the game for Ingram.
Upon a second look, Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse appears to make contact with MacKinnon before he ran into Ingram, leading Bednar to believe there shouldn’t have been a penalty on the play.
“There’s no chance that he hits the goalie if Nurse doesn’t run into him,” Bednar explained. “He’s not hitting the goalie…I check the overhead first, he’s going to go where his toes are pointed, and they’re going to the top of the crease with Ingram in the bottom of the crease until Nurse makes contact with him, and that’s what causes the collision….I don’t care if he’s injured, not injured. It’s a severe crash, not a severe crash. It’s not a penalty.”
Edmonton failed to cash in on the major power play, and while the Avs managed to tie the game at three in the third period, Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored what ended up being the game-winner on the man advantage.
MacKinnon now has just 35 penalty minutes on the 2025-26 season. The Hart Trophy favorite has 43 goals and 61 assists for 104 points in 62 games thus far, leading the NHL in goals, while trailing McDavid in assists and points.
The Avalanche (43-11-9) holds the best record in the league, sitting five points ahead of the Dallas Stars in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy.