Chris Kreider’s ‘ruthless’ hit on Leon Draisaitl sparks fan call for ‘hearing’

TL;DR

Chris Kreider's hit on Leon Draisaitl in Game 5 of the NHL playoffs has sparked outrage and calls for a hearing. The hit, deemed 'ruthless' by fans, occurred with 2:40 left in the second period while the Oilers led 4-1 over the Ducks.

Key points

Chris Kreider hit Leon Draisaitl during Game 5 of the NHL playoffs
The hit occurred with 2:40 left in the second period
Fans reacted strongly, calling it a 'ruthless hit'
No penalty was called by officials on the play
The Edmonton Oilers were leading 4-1 over the Anaheim Ducks

Chris KreiderLeon DraisaitlEdmonton OilersAnaheim Ducks

Tensions flared in Game 5 of the 2026 NHL Western Conference First Round series after Chris Kreider delivered a heavy second-period hit on Leon Draisaitl that quickly drew outrage online.

The incident came with 2:40 left in the second period and the Edmonton Oilers leading 4-1 over the Anaheim Ducks. Kreider caught Draisaitl square on the numbers, sending him hard into the boards. Officials did not call a penalty, a decision that fueled immediate backlash.

Oilers Nation shared the clip on X, calling it a “ruthless hit,” and reactions poured in within minutes.

One fan wrote, “What a piece of actual shit. That deserves fkn hearing.”

Another added, “That hit could take an elite player out for the season or worse. Refs are horrible. Dont care who it is. Do better.”

“That’s blatantly a hit from behind. You have to call that, or it’s going to get real chippy in this series,” a fan mentioned.

One fan complained, saying, “Then looks for the call right after, pure guilt, and ref?? “All good, dude, play on!”

“Can see the puck cross the line by a mm, but can’t see boarding right in front of their f’n faces. Clown show officiating.” A fan wrote, pointing to Game 4 OT goal.

“Edmonton has to put an end to this by taking some very healthy runs at Carlson, Terry Gauthier, and Sennecke. Gauthier and Carlson, if I had it my way. Dirty if it has to be. This is getting ridiculous.” One fan mentioned.

Q&A

What happened during Chris Kreider's hit on Leon Draisaitl?

Chris Kreider delivered a heavy hit on Leon Draisaitl, sending him into the boards, which led to significant backlash from fans.

Why are fans calling for a hearing regarding Kreider's hit?

Fans are calling for a hearing because they believe the hit was dangerous and could potentially injure Draisaitl severely, especially since no penalty was called.

What was the score when Kreider hit Draisaitl?

The score was 4-1 in favor of the Edmonton Oilers when Kreider delivered the hit on Draisaitl.