Avalanche’s MacKinnon ejected for goalie interference on Oilers’ Connor Ingram
Normally when the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers square off, you expect a display of talent. But that wasn’t the notable point of Tuesday’s matchup between the two teams.
One of the many superstars in Tuesday’s game in Nathan MacKinnon found himself on the highlight reel, but not for the usual reasons, as he was ejected for goalie interference on Connor Ingram.
Nathan MacKinnon has received a five-minute major following a scary collision with Connor Ingram. Tristan Jarry has entered the game for Ingram.
The infraction occurred late in the second period of the game when MacKinnon was receiving a cross-crease pass while driving the net. He missed on the deflection, sending the puck behind the net, but continued to drive towards the net and crashed into Ingram.
As a result, MacKinnon was ejected from the game, and received a five-minute major penalty for goaltender interference and a 10-minute game misconduct. The Oilers did not score on the ensuing power play.
MacKinnon left the game with the 15 penalty minutes and one shot in 14:17 of ice time, with the Avalanche trailing 3-2 at the time of his departure.
There’s currently no word on whether or not MacKinnon will receive supplemental discipline from the NHL Department of Player Safety for the incident. Up to this point in his career, he hasn’t been suspended, but has been fined.
The ejection will certainly add to MacKinnon’s penalty minute total, and likely take the 2019-20 Lady Byng winner out of this year’s race for the trophy, as he entered the game with just 20 before the 15 he received today. He also has 43 goals and 61 assists for 104 points in 62 games this season, and is one of the favourites for the Hart Trophy.
Ingram was slow to get up after the hit, and eventually had to leave the game, with Tristan Jarry taking his place. There’s currently no word on if Ingram sustained a significant injury on the play, or how long he is expected to be out if that’s the case.
Ingram finished the game stopping 15 of 17 shots for an .882 save percentage. He had a 9-6-1 record, an .892 SV%, one shutout and -1.26 5v5 goals saved above expected in 18 games entering Tuesday’s game.
Ross Colton (upper body) will not return to the game.
Ingram wasn’t the only injury in the game, as forward Ross Colton also left due to an upper-body injury. It’s unclear what caused the injury, but Colton was not on the Avalanche bench for the second half of the second period of the game.
Colton had scored the opening goal in the game just 32 seconds in to snap a nine-game goalless drought. He has eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points in 60 games this season.