NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has confirmed that a high-sticking incident took place during the Edmonton pre-game broadcast, according to a statement shared via his official X account. Friedman, a prominent reporter for Hockey Night in Canada, verified that the contact was clearly visible while the crew was live on-air.
In a response to Paul Bissonnette, Friedman noted that there was "definitely a high-stick" during the play in question. While the physical contact of the high-stick was confirmed by the broadcast team, Friedman noted that he could not speak to the specific timing of the officiating, particularly regarding exactly when the referee raised his hand to signal the penalty during the sequence.
The incident occurred as the broadcast team was providing coverage for the Edmonton Oilers. Friedman indicated that the network would likely show the footage of the play to provide further clarity on the sequence of events. The discussion highlights ongoing scrutiny regarding officiating and the visibility of infractions during televised NHL pre-game windows.
The confirmation from Friedman serves as the primary verification of the event as fans and analysts await the visual replay. No further details regarding potential disciplinary action or official league statements have been released at this time. The crew expects to review the footage as part of their ongoing coverage.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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