Kempe's controversial trip on McDavid during Monday’s game sparks fan outrage and fuels the rivalry ahead of their April rematch.
Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe faced a $5,000 fine for a slew-foot against Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid during Monday’s game at Rogers Place. The event occurred roughly halfway through the third period of the match between the two teams. McDavid carried the puck into the offensive zone, attempting to create space for a play. As the lone Oiler in the area, he turned to avoid getting caught in a tight spot down the center.
During this sequence, Kempe moved closer in an attempt to block a potential pass to the vacant space. The camera briefly captured Kempe extending his foot to trip McDavid immediately after he passed the puck to a speeding Connor Brown. No penalty was assessed during the play, and McDavid managed to finish the game.
However, Oilers fans expressed significant frustration on social media, perplexed that the incident did not result in a penalty. This appears to be a case of the officials missing the infraction during the game, with the fine representing the Department of Player Safety’s acknowledgment of the oversight. While a fine may seem like a minor consequence in the grand scheme, it is a step forward from having no repercussions at all.
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This isn’t the first time the two players have been involved in a controversial play that had negative consequences for one of them. On December 5, 2021, McDavid received a five-minute major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct after a hit on Kempe. Given that the Kings and Oilers have clashed in the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, incidents like these only add to the growing rivalry and hostility between the teams.
Kempe is enjoying a standout season with the Kings, sitting second in team scoring behind Anze Kopitar with 39 points (20 goals and 19 assists) in 41 games. On the other hand, McDavid, who scored during Monday’s game, is now just one point shy of his ninth consecutive season with 60 or more points. He currently has 59 points (17 goals and 42 assists) in 40 games played.
With tensions running high, their next meeting on April 5 promises to be a must-watch encounter.
Image Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images