Nurse said he thought the instigator rule was to protect players who weren't willing to fight. 'With 30 seconds left in a 4-1 game, I think to do it a fair way, to have a fair fight, where both people want to fight and are willing to engage, I think that's what took place last night.' So it's a little bit surprising to get that extra on it,' he said. I think he threw the first eight punches. I didn't go in there and jump him by any means. 'It's a fight that takes place between two people who were willing to fight. The fight lasted about 40 seconds before officials broke it up.īefore the suspension was announced, Nurse said that Hague asked him 'multiple times' to fight and 'provoked' him throughout the game. The Golden Knight dropped his gloves and landed several punches before Nurse was able to counter with blows of his own. Nurse skated to the end boards and grabbed Hague with 50 seconds left in the game. MT that Nurse's suspension had been upheld. He was given an instigator penalty in Game 4 Wednesday night at Rogers Place for a fight with Nicolas Hague.Īn instigator penalty in the last five minutes of the game carries an automatic one-game ban but it can also be reviewed by league officials. Edmonton defenceman Darnell Nurse has been suspended for Game 5 of the Oilers’ second-round playoff series with the Vegas Golden Knights.

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