NHL Rescinds Nathan MacKinnon's Major Penalty for Goalie Collision

The Colorado Avalanche forward will not be suspended after a controversial call against the Edmonton Oilers.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:49am

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The NHL has rescinded the major penalty and game misconduct that Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon received for running over Edmonton Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram during a game on Tuesday night. Replay showed that MacKinnon was angled into Ingram by Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, and the league determined that MacKinnon should not have been penalized. This is a significant development, as MacKinnon would have been suspended for one game if he had received a second major and game misconduct within his next 41 appearances.

Why it matters

MacKinnon is one of the NHL's top scorers this season, tied for second in the league with 104 points. Losing him for a game due to a questionable call could have had a major impact on the Avalanche's playoff positioning, as they are in a tight race atop the Western Conference standings.

The details

Officials penalized MacKinnon with a five-minute major and a game misconduct despite replay showing that he was angled into the goalie by Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. Being absolved of wrongdoing is a boon to MacKinnon, who would have been suspended for one game if he received a second major and game misconduct within his next 41 appearances.

  • On Tuesday, March 11, 2026, the incident occurred during the Colorado Avalanche's game against the Edmonton Oilers.
  • On Thursday, March 13, 2026, the NHL rescinded the major penalty and game misconduct against Nathan MacKinnon.

The players

Nathan MacKinnon

A forward for the Colorado Avalanche who is tied for second in the NHL in scoring this season with 104 points.

Connor Ingram

The goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers who was involved in the collision with MacKinnon and left the game to be evaluated for a concussion.

Darnell Nurse

An Edmonton Oilers defenseman who was involved in the play that led to the collision between MacKinnon and Ingram.

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What’s next

The Colorado Avalanche will open a two-game road trip against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, March 14, 2026.

The takeaway

This decision by the NHL to rescind the major penalty against Nathan MacKinnon highlights the importance of accurate officiating, especially when it comes to potential suspensions that could impact a team's playoff positioning. It also demonstrates the league's willingness to correct mistakes and ensure that its top players are not unfairly penalized.