The NHL fined Edmonton Oilers Jeff Skinner $2,000 for embellishment on Monday.
The automatic fine comes after the left winger received the second decoration fine this season. He previously received a warning for embellishment after the Oct. 22 game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The NHL’s hockey operations department keeps track of all games, records penalties for embellishment, and flags actions not taken on the ice that they believe deserved a penalty.
In this case, the department flagged a non-call from the Oilers’ Nov. 23 game against the New York Rangers.
Skinner controlled the puck along the boards as Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller defended him from behind. Miller reaches with his stick to try to knock the puck loose, but it appears to get stuck between Skinner’s arm and body. Skinner then fell to the ice while sending a backhand pass to the center of the ice. Rangers defenseman Adam Fox intercepted the pass. Skinner looked at the referee as he returned to the bench.
Rule 64 of the NHL rulebook says that any player who blatantly dives, embellishes a fall or reaction, or feigns an injury will receive a minor penalty.
Players and teams who repeatedly dive and dig in an attempt to take penalties will receive heavier fines on a scale. And if a club’s players receive a total of four fines for beautification or diving, the NHL starts fining the coach as well.
Citation number |
Player fine |
Head coach fine |
---|---|---|
1 |
Warning |
N/A |
2 |
$2,000 |
N/A |
3 |
$3,000 |
N/A |
4 |
$4,000 |
N/A |
5 |
$5,000 |
$2,000 |
6 |
$5,000 |
$3,000 |
7 |
$5,000 |
$4,000 |
8 |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
Skinner has four goals and eight points in 24 games this season.
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