Avalanche Superstar MacKinnon Ejected on Controversial Play

Avalanche lose 4-3 to Oilers after MacKinnon's game misconduct

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon was ejected from Tuesday night's game against the Edmonton Oilers after a controversial major penalty call for goaltender interference. MacKinnon appeared to get shoved into Oilers goalie Connor Ingram by Edmonton's Darnell Nurse, but the major penalty stood and MacKinnon was kicked out of the game. The Avalanche went on to lose 4-3 despite a late game-tying goal by Valeri Nichushkin.

Why it matters

MacKinnon is one of the NHL's elite players, and his ejection on a questionable call was a major turning point in the game. The Avalanche are contending for a playoff spot, so losing MacKinnon for the rest of the game was a significant blow. The controversial nature of the call also sparked debate around officiating and goaltender interference rules in the league.

The details

With the Avalanche trailing 3-2 in the third period, MacKinnon went hard to the net and collided with Oilers goalie Connor Ingram, causing Ingram to bleed. MacKinnon was assessed a five-minute major penalty for goaltender interference, which the officials upheld after a lengthy review. However, replays showed that MacKinnon appeared to get shoved into Ingram by Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse, making the call controversial. MacKinnon was ejected from the game as a result of the major penalty.

  • The incident occurred late in the second period of Tuesday night's game between the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers.
  • The Avalanche went on to tie the game 3-3 in the third period, but the Oilers scored the game-winning goal a few minutes later to win 4-3.

The players

Nathan MacKinnon

A superstar center for the Colorado Avalanche who was ejected from the game on a controversial goaltender interference call.

Connor Ingram

The Edmonton Oilers goaltender who was involved in the collision with MacKinnon that led to the major penalty call.

Darnell Nurse

The Edmonton Oilers defenseman who appeared to shove MacKinnon into Ingram, leading to the controversial call.

Valeri Nichushkin

The Colorado Avalanche forward who scored the game-tying goal in the third period to make it 3-3.

Connor McDavid

The Edmonton Oilers star player who scored the game-winning goal in the third period to make it 4-3.

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What’s next

The Avalanche will look to bounce back on Thursday night when they take on the Seattle Kraken. Nathan MacKinnon will be eligible to return to the lineup after serving his one-game suspension.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing debate around goaltender interference calls in the NHL and the need for more consistent officiating. It also underscores the importance of elite players like Nathan MacKinnon to their teams, as his ejection was a major blow to the Avalanche's chances of winning the game.