The Edmonton Oilers notched their fifth consecutive win on Saturday afternoon, but harsh words were thrown around after the fact.
While the team was happy with a 6-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, much of the conversation after the win surrounded a controversial non-call in the second period. The play in question involved Golden Knights star Jack Eichel cross-checking Oilers defenceman Mattias Ekholm right in the numbers and into the end boards.
The explanation that the refs gave McDavid (according to Ekholm) was that this was a battle between Eichel and Ek…
Don’t think I agree with that one bit
pic.twitter.com/q8KGU6fGNo— Preston Hodgkinson (@NHLHodgkinson) December 15, 2024
It was a scary play, and no penalty was called against Eichel. Luckily, Ekholm was able to escape without injury.
“I think it’s pretty self-explanatory,” Ekholm said after the game about the hit. “Obviously I think it’s a penalty… If I were to do that to somebody and get two minutes I wouldn’t say a word about it.
“It’s a dangerous play.”
“I think right now everybody’s roles are a lot clearer than they were in the beginning. Guys are getting more comfortable. You’re seeing the performance is on very high level right now.”
Mattias Ekholm on the #Oilers finding their stride.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/ChQwfUlbsW
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 15, 2024
A scrum ensued after the play and while Eichel was initially sent to the penalty box going into the commercial break, the refs ultimately decided that there was no need for a call to be made.
Ekholm said he got an initial reason for that after Oilers captain Connor McDavid had a conversation with the refs.
“What I heard from Connor right away is that [the ref] said it was a battle, I don’t really see it as a battle,” Ekholm explained. “I think he missed a call and that’s gonna happen.”
It wasn’t just the veteran Swede that was unhappy with the play. Connor Brown, who scored a goal and got two points in the victory, met with the media after the game as well. He laid it in no uncertain terms about how he felt about Eichel’s crosscheck.
“I didn’t like it. [Eichel] reacts like he didn’t mean to right away, but that’s a vulnerable spot,” Brown said. “I didn’t love it, that’s for sure.”
“It was fun, it’s nice to score one in front of him. It’s something that’s kind of surreal & I always dreamed about. It was a pretty special day for us.”
Connor Brown on scoring with his son Nolan in attendance for his first #Oilers game.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/MU88MOxX1J
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 15, 2024
Even Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch, who is usually very even-kneeled in the most stressful of moments, was not happy about how the officials handled the situation. Albeit, he gave very few words on the matter when Daily Hive asked him about the play after the game.
“I didn’t like it,” Knoblauch said. “Just not a penalty, that’s the explanation I got.”
“Stu was our best player. I thought he played extremely well… He just made save after save.”
Coach Knoblauch on Stuart Skinner’s 38-save performance vs. the Golden Knights this afternoon.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/e3G7q3z00Z
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 15, 2024
It’s another chapter to add to the ever-growing rivalry that is the Oilers and Golden Knights. You have to think that Eichel will be a player of interest when these two teams collide for one last time this season on April 1.