Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl has been held pointless this postseason. Sadly, the only impact he’s made in the playoffs was to Chris Tierney’s groin.

Midway through the second period of Tuesday night’s game, with Edmonton trailing 5-0, Draisaitl speared the San Jose Sharks forward below the belt.  Referee Francis St. Laurent was on top of the play, immediately giving Draisaitl the boot with a five minute major for spearing and a game misconduct.

 

 

San Jose scored on the ensuing power play, on their way to a 7-0 win.

“Just feel a stick in my groin, so obviously it doesn’t feel well at the time,” Tierney told the Mercury News. “Just kind of dropped and went to shake it off. Takes a couple minutes to recover from something like that, but I felt okay the rest of the game.”

San Jose’s Logan Couture agreed with the refs’ call, citing an intent to injure by Draisaitl.

“I think it’s dangerous. Any time you spear a guy like that you’re intending to injure him,” Couture said. “I don’t like those types of plays in this game, but the refs made a good call with throwing him out.”

Draisaitl is scheduled for a hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, who have the option of levying a fine or suspension for the incident.

 


As a dangerous, ‘non-hockey play’-type situation, Draisaitl deserves to miss some time.

With the premium on playoff games, we’re putting this at a one-game suspension at most.  That’d be the right call to send a message of zero tolerance on crotch-spears.

More than likely, though, he’ll escape with just a fine.

 

UPDATE:  As expected, Draisaitl has been fined $2,956 for spearing. His fine is the maximum allowable under the CBA.