The Edmonton Oilers are already missing three key players in Connor McDavid, James Neal, and Joakim Nygard, and following Thursday night's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, it looks like they will be without Zack Kassian for the next few games as well.
In case you missed it, during the first period of the game, Kassian was tangled up on the ice with Tampa Bay forward Erik Cernak. In an attempt to get free, Kassian delivered a push-kick to the chest of Cernak.
"That play he was holding my leg and it was just reactionary," Kassian told reporters following the game. "I just tried to get loose. I was laying there for a while and I was trying to get my leg out and get moving."
"If I kicked him hard, I think he would have flew back or the ref would have called a penalty," he continued. "I was trying to get off and pull my leg off. He was holding me and (teammate Josh Archibald) down. I didn't even know where the puck was (and) I was trying to pull my leg up and get up."
Kassian didn't receive a penalty on the play and he stayed in the game, but it was a very dangerous play and there's no doubt that he will be getting a call from the NHL Department of Player Safety.
This will be Kassian's second run-in with the DoPS—earlier this season he was suspended two games for going after Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk in a heated Battle of Alberta matchup.
Chernak gave his side of the story following Tampa's 3-1 win.
"I think he was a little bit mad," Cernak told reporters "I asked him what was wrong with him, because that's not the right play. (That's not) what to do on the ice. He didn't say (anything). So I don't know. Lucky it wasn't higher."
Kassian has been a key piece to the Oilers' success this season, in 52 games he has 14 goals and he's set a new career high in points with 30. He recently inked a four-year contract extension with a $3.2 million AAV.
The Oilers currently sit second in the Pacific Division with 66 points, but they're only three points ahead of ninth place in the Western Conference. With McDavid, Neal, Nygard, and presumably Kassian out of the lineup for the next few games, the Oilers will have to elevate their game to a whole new level if they hope to remain in the playoff hunt.
Meanwhile, Kassian has been offered an in-person hearing for the kick by the Department of Player Safety, setting him up for a suspension of six games or more.
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