Nathan MacKinnon Pulled After Pierre-Luc Pelletier Altercation

With the score 7-0 for the Oceanic early in the third period of Game 5 of the QMJHL semifinal, a frustrated MacKinnon threw down his gloves to fight Pelletier, but the Oceanic 20-year-old declined the invitation. Pelletier, who had cross-checked MacKinnon several times, went off for holding and MacKinnon for roughing.

The 16-year-old MacKinnon did not return to the game and was held without a point for just the third time in the QMJHL post-season.

“He just reacted — he had enough,” Mooseheads head coach Dominique Ducharme said. “At the same time, that’s the reason why we kept him out (for the rest of the game), so guys wouldn’t be going after him.”