NHL Hands Down Pietrangelo Discipline For Vicious Slash

The NHL Department of Player Safety has come down on Alex Pietrangelo for his vicious slash on leading playoff scorer Leon Draisaitl. The Vegas Golden Knights D-man gets a one-game suspension. He will sit out Game 5 of their series with the Edmonton Oilers.

Vegas’ Alex Pietrangelo has been suspended for one playoff game for Slashing against Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl.https://t.co/fK1Lswfwz6
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 12, 2023

"In this case, the puck has been gone for some time before Pietrangelo chooses to ignore the play, raise his stick and deliver a slash... with sufficient force for supplemental discipline," said the Department of Player Safety. They also cited the fact that this was a first-time offense of this type for Pietrangelo as playing into their decision.

With time running out on the Oilers' decisive 4-1 victory in Game 4 to tie the series, Draisaitl had just missed an empty net chance, when Pietrangelo skated across the ice, stick raised high over his shoulder and hacked down hard on Draisaitl's upper arms.

Alex Pietrangelo gives Leon Draisaitl a two-handed slash after an empty net opportunity. pic.twitter.com/wziPdleLDx
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 11, 2023

Pietrangelo got a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the slash, and now will sit out a crucial, possibly series-shifting Game 5 with the teams tied at 2-2.

The suspension is especially significant given the fact that the Oilers will have to play Game 5 without their top-pairing defenseman Darnell Nurse.

Game 5 is Friday night.

Photo: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports