Edmonton Oiler Darnell Nurse has been suspended for one game, the NHL’s department of player safety said Wednesday afternoon.
Nurse was suspended for head-butting Los Angeles’ Phillip Danault during the Oilers’ 5-4 overtime loss in Game 4.
The Game 4 result meant the Oilers fell behind 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.
The incident took place in the final seconds of the second period.
No penalties were called.
“What I think is immaterial,” said Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft about the decision. “The bottom line is Darnell is not an available player for us. We accept the decision and move on.
“I’m not disappointed in Darnell. Darnell plays the game hard. I don’t think there was any intention there at all. It just kind of happened in the way the game was being played.”
Nurse had a hearing with the NHL’s department of player safety on Wednesday.
His suspension means he’ll miss Edmonton’s must-win Game 6 in Los Angeles on Thursday.
“He’s a pretty good hockey player that’s been taken out of our lineup,” Woodcroft said. “But we’ve had him out of our lineup before and been able to handle it. That’s what we expect to do tomorrow.”