DENVER — Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon raced to clear a puck from the Colorado zone late in the second period Monday night when it happened — a gloved sucker-punch to the back of the head from Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban.
MacKinnon, whose second goal in the Avs' 5-3 victory was followed by "MVP" chants inside the Pepsi Center, spun to the ice. MacKinnon then held Subban's skate as he stood above him, just before Avs captain Gabe Landeskog arrived to knock Subban down. A short scuffle followed. The crowd shifted its chants to "Subban sucks!"
Subban received a penalty; however, the punishment didn't appear to fit the crime.