Oilers' Darnell Nurse Suspended for Game 6 vs. Kings

The Edmonton Oilers will have to fend off elimination shorthanded as one of their best defenseman won't be eligible to play. Darnell Nurse has been suspended for one game, thanks to a headbutt on Los Angeles Kings forward Phillip Danault during Game 5 on Tuesday night.

Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse has been suspended for one game for Head-butting Los Angeles’ Phillip Danault. https://t.co/w6UdQQKznD

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 11, 2022

Here's the Nurse headbutt vs. Danault from last night's game. pic.twitter.com/u9sqPtwdTW

— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) May 11, 2022

The incident occurred late in the second period with the Kings up 3-1. Nurse got in the grill of Danault in the final seconds and launched himself into the Kings' forward. There was no penalty called on the play. As per the NHL rulebook:

Rule 47 states that a headbutt occurs when a player makes or attempts to make intentional contact with an opponent by leading with his head and/or helmet. The rule calls for a double-minor penalty if a player attempts a headbutt and a major if he makes contact.

The Kings hold a 3-2 advantage in the first-round series thanks to a 5-4 overtime win on the road in Edmonton. The Oilers now try to win on the road in California without their 27-year-old blueliner who has been leading all Edmonton skaters in ice time (25:03 per game). Game 6 goes Thursday night at the Crypto.com arena.

Photo credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports