Leon Draisaitl was fined, but not suspended, for spearing Chris Tierney in Game 4 of the Sharks-Oilers first round series at SAP Center on Tuesday night.
Draisaitl is $2,569.44 lighter in the wallet, the maximum allowed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, but will be available to play in Game 5 in Edmonton on Thursday. The NHL Departement of Player Safety revealed the decision on Wednesday afternoon after a hearing.
The 21-year-old Oilers forward was issued a five-minute major and a game misconduct at 13:44 of the second period of the Sharks' 7-0 win when he pitchforked Tierney in the groin during a battle in the corner. The Sharks' fourth line center was shaken up on the play and had to be helped to the dressing room, but returned.
"Just feel a stick in my groin, so obviously it doesn't feel well at the time," Tierney said after the game. "Just kind of dropped and went to shake it off. Takes a couple minutes to recover from something like that. But felt OK the rest of the game."
Oilers coach Todd McLellan didn't have much to say about the play, which led to a Joe Pavelski power play goal, upping the Sharks' lead to 6-0.
"Frustrating for [Draisaitl]. Frustrating for us because we put our penalty kill back on the ice for another five minutes. And, not necessary, so we'll fix it," McLellan said.
Sports
Logan Couture was the most vocal Sharks player in regards to the dirty play.
"That's a play that you don't like to see as a hockey player," Couture said. "Obviously, probably frustrating on his part. I think it's dangerous. Any time you spear a guy like that you're intending to injure him. I don't like those types of plays in this game, but the refs made a good call with throwing him out."
The Sharks and Oilers are tied at two games apiece in the best-of-seven series. Draisaitl, who was Edmonton's second-leading scorer in the regular season with 77 points (eighth in the NHL), is scoreless in the series so far.
