The 2022-2023 NHL season has only just begun, and we already have our first fine. Defensemen Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers has been given a $5,000 fine for a hit on Vancouver Canucks defensemen Kyle Burroughs.

In the final seconds of the first period in Wednesday night’s game, the puck went sliding into the corner of the Canucks’ zone. Burroughs skated to get the puck out of the corner when Oilers forward Evander Kane laid a clean hit on Burroughs that caused the puck to slide away from them. Just moments after Kane knocked the puck away from Burroughs, Nurse came in and laid a late hit on Burroughs. Thankfully Burroughs did not appear injured from the late hit. Nurse was given a two-minute minor penalty for interference, sending the Canucks to the power play to start the second period.

Canucks rookie forward Andrei Kuzmenko went on to score his first career goal on that power play to give Vancouver a 3-0 lead in the game. This three-goal lead would not last long though, as the Oilers mounted a tremendous comeback to win the game 5-3.

Darnell Nurse is quickly becoming quite the thorn in the sides of Canucks fans everywhere with this hit on Burroughs, and with it not being his first dirty hit on one of their players. Just one week prior to that game on October 5th, Nurse took a dirty shot at Canucks forward Nils Hoglander. Hoglander and Nurse skated behind the net to get the puck when Nurse elbowed Hoglander in the face. Hoglander was left visibly shaken from the hit but fortunately did not sustain any injuries. Nurse was given a four-minute double minor penalty for high sticking.

It will be very interesting to see these two teams play each other again this season, which will not be until December 23rd in Edmonton. The more intriguing matchup, however, will be their third and final matchup of the season on January 21st. What makes that matchup more intriguing is that it will be played in Vancouver and in turn, will be Nurse’s first time in Vancouver after the hits on Hoglander and Burroughs. It will be fun to see how a very passionate Vancouver Canucks fanbase will treat him on January 21st.