Podkolzin Ejected After Fighting Helleson
Oilers' Vasily Podkolzin was thrown out of the game after defending captain Connor McDavid in a first-period scrum against the Ducks.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Hockey
Vasily Podkolzin received a game misconduct for fighting Drew Helleson during the Oilers-Ducks game midway through the first period. The scrum followed Helleson checking Connor McDavid into the Anaheim net with just under 12 minutes remaining in the period.
Why it matters
The fight came after a hit that left McDavid down on the ice, and Podkolzin's ejection removes a player from Edmonton's lineup early in the contest. The incident underscores how quickly physical play can change the course of a game.
Podkolzin was assessed a two-minute instigator penalty and a five-minute fighting major plus a game misconduct, while Helleson drew two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct. Cutter Gauthier scored Anaheim's opening goal on a five-minute power play, and the league has not addressed any further review of the hit.
The players
Vasily Podkolzin
Podkolzin is a 25-year-old Edmonton Oilers forward known for his physical style of play who came to his captain's defense in this game.
Drew Helleson
Helleson is an Anaheim Ducks defenseman whose hit on Connor McDavid triggered the scrum in this game.
Connor McDavid
McDavid is the Edmonton Oilers captain and one of the most prominent players in the National Hockey League.
The details
Helleson bumped McDavid into the post after McDavid drove to the Ducks crease, and McDavid remained on the ice as players from both teams converged. Podkolzin found Helleson in the scrum and the two fought before McDavid left for the tunnel and later returned to the game.
Timeline
November 5, 2026: Helleson checks McDavid into the Anaheim net with just under 12 minutes left in the first period.
November 5, 2026: Podkolzin is ejected midway through the first period.
November 5, 2026: Cutter Gauthier scores Anaheim's opening goal on a five-minute power play.
Season Trajectory
Early-season physical incidents like this one can shape how coaches manage their lineups over the 82-game NHL schedule. The ejection of a forward for defending a star captain fits into a longstanding pattern of enforcers and skaters policing their own stars.
Podkolzin's ejection leaves Edmonton short a forward for the rest of the game, which affects ice time and line combinations for the Oilers. Fantasy managers rostering either player should watch for any suspension or league discipline that could affect their availability.
The takeaway
Physical incidents early in a game can change a team's lineup and momentum in a single moment, so coaches and fans alike should watch how line combinations adjust. The scrum shows how quickly a team will respond when its captain is targeted.
Further reading
For more on the sport, see the Hockey section.
