Draisaitl escapes penalty for cross-check on Matthews - but could NHL discipline follow?
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Leon Draisaitl cross-checked Auston Matthews in the ribs with no penalty called, and the Maple Leafs routed the Oilers 7-2 in Edmonton on Saturday night.
Leon Draisaitl got away with one in Edmonton on Saturday night.
The Oilers star drove a cross-check into the ribs of Leafs captain Auston Matthews in the first period, and no penalty was called even with the referee in clear view.
Leafs Papi shared the clip on X, and it spread fast among Toronto fans.
Leafs pull away in Edmonton
Matthews looked uncomfortable afterward but kept playing, and five minutes into the second period he made it 2-0 with a goal set up by Easton Cowan and Jack Roslovic.
Toronto won 7-2 at Rogers Place.
William Nylander scored twice to reach 300 career goals, Anthony Stolarz stopped 30 shots, and Roslovic, Troy Stecher, Zack MacEwen and Vinni Lettieri also scored.
Draisaitl had both Oilers goals and sits at 12 on the season, tied with Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov for the NHL lead.
His second came on the power play against a Toronto penalty kill that had allowed one goal all season.
Connor McDavid added two assists and extended his point streak to 11 games.
Will the league look at it?
No penalty was called, so any discipline would be up to the league.
Fans were split online, with some calling it dirty and others saying Leafs supporters were overreacting.
Former NHL defenseman Kevin Bieksa called it a cheap play that found a spot with no padding.
Edmonton fell to 8-2-1 and saw its three-game winning streak end, while Toronto improved to 7-4-2 with its fourth straight win.
The Oilers had an injury scare when Jake Walman went down after a collision with Roslovic.
For a team that came in 8-1-1, it was a loud reminder that Edmonton can get run over on a bad night.
The Leafs head to Calgary on Monday night while the Oilers host the Red Wings.
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