Edmonton Oilers
Hyman’s Viral Wink Steals the Show in Oilers’ Shootout Win
Did Zach Hyman get away with embellishing a call or was his viral wink to Sean Walker and his badly timed penalty?
Zach Hyman may have sold a penalty, and he doesn’t seem to mind that everyone noticed. In a tight and entertaining game between the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes — one that had a little bit of everything — Hurricanes fans are livid with Hyman for embellishing, then looking up and winking, an obvious sign he’d gotten away with something.
During Edmonton’s shootout win over Carolina, Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker shoved (crosschecked) Hyman from behind while the Oilers forward was already falling down. Hyman hit the ice looking hurt. Once the whistle blew and Walker headed to the box (after trying to get at Hyman for seemingly diving), Hyman glanced up, grinned, and winked.
An irate Walker clearly believed he’d been conned.
Fans are divided. Some say the theatrics are exactly what’s wrong with embellishment in the game and that officials should start doubting Hyman’s reactions. Others thought Hyman was smart to make sure the officials saw the penalty (and yes, it was a penalty). One fan called Hyman the “funniest man alive.”
Walker Was Frustrated, and Hyman Played It
Whether Hyman was embellishing or just chirping Walker after the crosscheck, the Hurricanes defenseman deserves his share of the blame. Replays show a clear cross-check on a player who was already on the ice, an undisciplined play in a tied game where Carolina’s penalty kill had already surrendered three power-play goals.
The officials had been watching Walker and Hyman go at each other for much of that shift. Walker felt like he’d been knocked down just seconds before and the call was missed. He then went after Hyman and got caught by bad timing. Given that the Oilers power play had been such a potent weapon, it was a bad mistake.
Edmonton’s power play has surged since Hyman returned to the lineup. It has climbed to 31% since Hyman’s return.
The wink became a side story in a game that felt more like a playoff battle than a late-October contest, with both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl putting up five points. The Oilers improved to 8-1-1 on the season with a dramatic 6-5 shootout victory. Hyman didn’t score a goal (he had one waived off because of a high stick) but helped lead the comeback after the Oilers fell behind by two late in the second period.
So was it a dive, or did Hyman just make sure the refs saw a bad penalty?
Next: Viral Connor McDavid Video Leaves Leafs Fans Convinced He’s Coming Home
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