Oilers' Nurse automatically suspended 1 game for instigating

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse was automatically suspended one game for instigating a fight with Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague in the final five minutes of regulation during Game 4, the league confirmed Thursday.

The NHL reviewed the penalty and had the option to overturn the suspension. Head coach Jay Woodcroft was also automatically fined $10,000 under the rule.

Nurse - the Oilers' most-used defenseman this postseason - will be unavailable for Friday's Game 5. He has four assists in 10 playoff games.

"It's a fight that takes place between I think two people who were willing to fight," Nurse said postgame Thursday. "I didn't go in there and jump him by any means. His gloves were off first. I didn't throw the first punch. I think he threw the first eight punches. So it was a little bit surprising to get the extra (penalty) on it."

Woodcroft said, "I saw Darnell wrap somebody up, two guys bear-hugging each other. And I saw their player with his gloves off first. I saw their player throw eight punches. So, to me, that's two willing combatants. It's not like somebody was turtled up in a ball. I saw two willing combatants."

In more fallout from Wednesday's game, Vegas' Alex Pietrangelo earned a one-game suspension for his slash on Leon Draisaitl.

The second-round series is tied at two games apiece following Edmonton's 4-1 win.

Nurse was suspended for three games in 2016 for instigating a fight with Roman Polak.