The Dallas Stars won Game 4 against the Colorado Avalanche, but there were worrying signs about Chris Tanev.
He missed the final 11 minutes of the game after taking a big hit from Ross Colton, and he stayed off the ice the two days after the game.
He was, however, back for Game 5. But early in the game, Chris Tanev was forced to leave for the dressing room yet again after receiving a big hit from superstar Nathan MacKinnon.
MacKinnon, more known for his offensive plays than laying big hits, ran into Tanev as the Stars tried to break the puck out of their zone.
Tanev did not see the collision coming, and it looked like MacKinnon’s shoulder struck Tanev up high.
It was Tanev’s first shift of the game and the first since leaving early in Game 4, and fans were worried he wouldn’t come back. Luckily, Tanev was cleared to play, and he returned to the bench with a little over 13 minutes left in the first period.
He went on to play 26 more shifts, with a total time on the ice of 19:59, but it didn’t help the Dallas Stars.
The Colorado Avalanche were down 2-1 midway through the second period but scored three unanswered goals to turn the game around. They eventually won 5-3, which means the Stars now hold a 3-2 series lead.
On social media, opinions about MacKinnon’s collision with Tanev were mixed. Many claimed MacKinnon intentionally caused it and was out to hurt his opponent.
”I’m trying to find a way not to see this as an intentional hit to the head, and I am not coming up with one,” one user said on X.
”I get that it’s MacKinnon, but at some point the NHL can’t keep allowing him to take out Stars best players, right?” another said.
”Such a cheap player,” a third added.
However, many were certain that MacKinnon didn’t mean for it to happen, and he even tried to avoid the collision.
”It’s witch hunt season. This is just accidental contact between two players, nothing more to it,” one said.
”This was very much not intentional and MacKinnon doesn’t deserve any hate for it, honestly. Sometimes shit happens,” another said.
”Well Tanev is rising up and McKinnon is just skating through that area, I would say this is purely incidental contact. Possibly could be called interference but nothing dirty about it,” a third added.
