Update: Darnell Nurse suspended for headbutt; Jamie Benn fined again
Anthony Scultore
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Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse delivered a WWE style headbutt to Los Angeles Kings forward Phillip Danault in Game 5 that would make Andre The Giant proud.
Of course, for his efforts the NHL Department of Player Safety will hold a hearing that will likely result in a suspension.
The incident occurred with five seconds remaining in the second period of Tuesday night’s game, won by the Kings, 5-4 in overtime. The Kings took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
UPDATE: Darnell Nurse has been suspended for 1 game by the NHL Department of Player Safety and will miss Game 6 on Thursday.
Darnell Nurse headbutt
In numerous video replays, Nurse can be clearly seen ramming his helmet into the face of Danault. This led to a melee with no penalties called on the play.
Nurse recorded 35 points (nine goals, 26 assists) and 54 penalty minutes in 71 games during the regular season.
Nurse, 27, who played 26:23 in the Kings OT win on Tuesday night, would be a big hit to the Oilers chances of extending this series for a Game 7 back in Edmonton.
Jamie Benn fined again
Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn was fined $5,000 on Tuesday for tripping Calgary Flames forward Trevor Lewis in Game 4 on Monday night.
It is the second $5,000 fine of the series for the Dallas forward, who was docked for hick-sticking forward Andrew Mangiapane in Game 3 on Saturday.
Benn received a two-minute penalty for the incident with Lewis, which occurred 26 seconds into the second period of the Stars’ 4-1 loss.
The best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series is tied at 2-2 with Game 5 on Wednesday night in Calgary.
Benn, 32, has not scored in the series. He had 46 points (18 goals, 28 assists) in 82 games in the regular season.
On Feb. 19, he was fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after squirting a water bottle at Chicago Blackhawks forward MacKenzie Entwistle.
–Field Level Media contributed to this report