Gamesmanship is one aspect of the game that is rarely discussed, as any hockey player or viewer will attest. Players will occasionally try their hardest to sell a play in an effort to get their teams a power play. Selling a call can be distinguished from overly embellishing by a thin line.
Although it's common practice to sell a call, exaggerating is viewed as a humiliating move. Last evening. In one of the most embarrassing plays of the season, Edmonton Oilers player Leon Draisaitl went too far in embellishing a play and over the line into selling.
Ryan Suter's right arm rises and clips Leon in the left ear as he and Draisaitl circle around the back of the net. Draisaitl responds to the play right away. His hand does not, however, come close to gripping the front of his face.
Draisaitl gripped his face on the ice as the refs whistled the play dead, but no penalty was called—clearly the correct call. After winning the game, the Oilers knotted the series at two games. Dallas will host Game 5 next night.
