The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has handed Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid a three-game suspension following a dangerous cross-check to Vancouver Canucks forward Connor Garland. The incident unfolded in the closing moments of the Canucks’ 3-2 win, when McDavid and Garland got tangled up after a scoring opportunity. As the play carried on, both players were brought to the ice, and McDavid, in a fit of frustration, delivered a high cross-check to Garland, causing tensions to boil over.
The altercation quickly escalated into a full-on brawl, with players from both teams getting involved in the chaotic scene. McDavid was assessed a match penalty and sent off the ice early, with the league now taking disciplinary action for his dangerous hit.
This suspension marks a rare blemish on McDavid’s otherwise exemplary career, as this is just the second time he’s been handed a suspension. His first came in 2019, when he received a two-game ban for delivering an illegal hit to the head of defenseman Nick Leddy. This latest suspension is sure to spark further discussion on McDavid’s on-ice behavior and whether it reflects any frustrations after a challenging season for the Oilers.
