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‘Brutal!’ Oilers fans react to Lindgren’s hit on Bouchard
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Woz
By Woz
May 28, 2026, 14:00 EDTUpdated: May 28, 2026, 14:09 EDT
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Move over, Vegas Golden Knights. There’s a new public enemy No. 1 in Edmonton, and his name is Ryan Lindgren.
This morning in the World Championship game, Lindgren, playing for the U.S., laid a massive hit on Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard, who is representing Canada.
Bouchard was shaken up after the hit and needed help to the dressing room. There wasn’t an update on his status afterward, however, Lindgren was ejected from the game. Fans took to social media afterward to express concern for Bouchard and share their reactions to the hit.
Brutal! Guys who do this crap need to pay far more of a price than sitting out a few games. Playing with others careers here. – Chadmelchert via Instagram
Beautiful hit, first thing your taught in hockey is to keep your head up or this is what can happen. – Zmysko via Instagram
I hate bs tournaments that have zero bearing on the league. NHL players should not be able to participate in tournament hockey. The contracts are worth too much money to to ruin a career and a team by allowing this crap. – Redbarn_customs_a.b._ via Instagram
Targeted the head. Feet come off the ice! Ryan Lindgren with a DIRTY!!!! HIT. Oilers Vs. Kraken will be must see TV next fall. – Scott.thomson.6811 via Instagram
At least the IIHF shows that they actually give af about player safety compared to the NHL, kicking Lindgren out was the least they could do considering how Bouch slid along the ice so lifelessly after that hit.- @sidmogging via X
Launched himself with a target of the head, which he nailed. The lack of respect among hockey players will never cease to amaze and disappoint me. This ain’t a big hit. It’s a garbage cheap shot … and, yes, Bouchard needs to keep his head up, but it doesn’t change what I said. – @PoupartNFL via X
To no surprise, there are fans defending Lindgren, calling it a clean hit and saying that Bouchard should’ve kept his head up. There was a report after the playoffs that an Oilers defenceman was playing through a concussion in the postseason; however, the Oilers denied the rumour as soon as it was asked about.
That hit should wake him up to play his defensive game in his own zone going forward… – Som Prasad via Facebook
Hit to the head, jumped a little too. So yeah. It’s a major. Wonder if that affects his career now. Btw, Scheifele looks like he’s playing beer league…. – Gary Broughton via Facebook
Head shot and Bouchard isn’t looking because he dished the puck off already. This is the hits no one wants in the game anymore hope he got tossed. – Chris Yeo via Facebook
Yeah….that was a predatory chicken wing. Not cool. – JackieBee_16 via X
Even the biggest Bouchard hater like me hates to see this. I hope he has a quick recovery. Concussions are no joke thats just a brutally bad hit and worse result. – JHammy51 via X
What you hear is the sound of every Oiler fan waiting to see when Edmonton first plays Seattle next season. You can guarantee a dirty hit like this won’t be forgotten about by the fan base. – @aasingleton17 via X
Evan Bouchard is tougher and more durable than people give him credit for. He hasn’t missed a game for the Edmonton Oilers over the past two seasons, including the playoffs. Since the 22/23 season, he’s only missed one game.
Canada would go on to beat Team USA, with former Oilers Dylan Holloway and Connor Brown scoring two of Canada’s goals. With the win, Canada advanced to the tournament’s semi-final, which will be played on Saturday. However, since Bouchard did not return to the game in the quarter-final, it’s hard to say if he will appear in Canada’s next game.

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