Oilers-Canucks players enter ‘scary and terrible’ preseason scrum

Edmonton Oilers forward Zack Kassian was injured in a scuffle with Vancouver Canucks center Zack MacEwen in a preseason game Thursday night.

Kassian and MacEwen fought late in the third period. As the two went blow for blow, Kassian’s helmet came off and when he fell on the ice, he landed on his head. Kassian had to be helped off the ice after the scrum.

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Edmonton Oilers’ Zack Kassian (44) lies on the ice after a fight with Vancouver Canucks Zack MacEwen (71) during an NHL pre-season hockey game in Edmonton, Alta. On Thursday October 7, 2021.
(Jason Franson / The Canadian Press via AP)

Oilers forward Derek Ryan said it was scary to see Kassian fall on the ice like that.

“He’s like my brother, sitting next to me in the locker room. So seeing him like that on the ice, it hurts my stomach,” Ryan said, via The Athletic. “It’s a tough feeling. I haven’t seen him yet, but I’ve heard he’s okay.”

Oilers coach Dave Tippett said Kassian did well afterwards.

Zack MacEwen (71) of the Vancouver Canucks and Zack Kassian (44) of the Edmonton Oilers face off in the third period of an NHL pre-season game on Thursday, October 7, 2021, in Edmonton, Ontario. Alberta.
(Jason Franson / The Canadian Press via AP)

“He’s got a pretty good bump on his head after hitting the ice, but he was in a good mood and was telling jokes when I came to see him after the game. It’s one of those that bothers you when this happens. … We’ll see where he is tomorrow, ”Tippett said.

Canucks forward Quinn Hughes described the fight as “scary”.

“It’s scary, it’s terrible, it’s not cool. It probably didn’t have to happen,” Hughes said.

It seemed like both players couldn’t wait for matches to count to pitch hands. Hockey fights are not uncommon, but doing it in the preseason, with nothing at stake, seemed like overkill, even for the standards of the sport.

Edmonton Oilers Zack Kassian (44) is treated by medics after a fight with Vancouver Canucks Zack MacEwen in the third period of an NHL preseason game on Thursday October 7, 2021 in Edmonton, Alta. .
(Jason Franson / The Canadian Press via AP)

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Kassian is about to enter his seventh season with Edmonton. He played 27 games in 2020-21. MacEwen is entering his fourth season with the Canucks. He played 34 games last season.