Oilers’ Bouchard tried to tap out of aggressive Ekblad chokehold

Everyone expected the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers to be aggressive, and it certainly lived up to that last night.

After a relatively quiet Game 1, things ramped up in Game 2, with both teams trading some big, dangerous hits in the opening frame.

That seemed to set the tone for the remainder of the game, with both teams trading shots throughout. Perhaps the most talked about moment, however, was an incident between Aaron Ekblad and Evan Bouchard late in the third period.

During a scrum, cameras panned to Ekblad as he grabbed Bouchard around the neck. Soon afterward, the Oilers defenceman began hitting his hand against Ekblad’s arm, as if to try and tap out.

Shortly after the clip was caught, fans began discussing the very unusual moment.

This incident, along with a high hit by Leon Draisaitl on Aleksander Barkov, should only open the door for an even more physical Game 3. It is a must-win of sorts for the Oilers, who, if not already in major trouble, certainly will be if they go down 3-0 in the series.

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