NHL fines Golden Knights’ Deryk Engelland for high-stick penalty
Deryk Engelland’s stick got him in trouble with the NHL.
The Golden Knights defenseman was fined $2,688.17 for high-sticking on Chicago’s Brandon Saad in the first period of Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the Blackhawks.
Engelland was given a two-minute minor for the infraction, which came 57 seconds into the game after Engelland caught Saad in the face with his stick.
The fine, which was announced Wednesday by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, was the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement. It is the first fine assessed to a Knights player by the department of safety.
Fleury watching Olympics
The men’s Olympic hockey tournament got underway Wednesday and Marc-Andre Fleury was watching.
The Knights goaltender, who represented gold medal winner Canada in the 2010 Games in Vancouver, was happy for those who are playing in the tournament even though NHL players were prohibited from competing in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
“Yeah, it was such a great experience when I went, and I have great memories from it,” he said. “It’s an honor when you can represent your country in something like that. But these guys have a great opportunity. They got to do it, too. They got to live the experience and good for them.”
Haula sits out Cirque
The Knights’ players participated in an off-ice recovery workout with the coaches of Cirque du Soleil Wednesday at the MGM Grand. Everyone but forward Erik Haula took part in the event, which included juggling and being launched airborne from red silk drapes.
Haula missed Tuesday’s game with the flu, but coach Gerard Gallant said afterward that he didn’t think it would be long-term and a determination on Haula’s status for Thursday’s game with Edmonton would be made Thursday.
Oil leak
The Edmonton Oilers have struggled throughout this season. But February has started out especially cruel for Connor McDavid and Co. The Oilers have lost five of six games they’ve played this month and are in the throes of a four-game losing streak.
McDavid has managed to excel despite the lack of support. He was tied for third in the NHL in scoring Wednesday with 66 points (23 goals, 43 assists).
Among the Oilers’ many issues are their special teams play. Edmonton ranks last in the league in penalty kill percentage (70.9 percent) and is next to last in power-play percentage (15 percent).
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Contact Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow @stevecarprj on Twitter.
