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Oilers' Connor McDavid Facing Suspension After 'Brutal' Cross-Check

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jan 19, 2025 6:30 AM ET

Connor McDavid’s second career suspension appears imminent after the Edmonton Oilers captain received a match penalty for cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland late in Saturday’s 3–2 loss.

The penalty, assessed at 19:57 of the third period, comes with an automatic suspension pending league review.

The incident occurred after McDavid and Garland became entangled in the high slot for about 15 seconds. Frustration boiled over as McDavid wrestled free and delivered a "brutal cross-check," as described by one of the Sportsnet game announcers, that struck Garland in the head, sending him to the ice.

McDavid was ejected, leaving the Oilers without their star for the final seconds of the matchup and likely for at least one more game assuming he gets the minimum suspension handed by the NHL.

Connor McDavid was issued a match penalty on this play for cross-checking Conor Garland. pic.twitter.com/sB2Gpb3xAA
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 19, 2025

“Connor gets frustrated, and he gets his stick up,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said postgame. “He’s frustrated because we’re down one goal and the best player in the league is getting held for 15 seconds.

”There's frustration that's allowed to happen, and his stick got up, so that's what happened.”

Moments after McDavid’s penalty, Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers was also handed a match penalty for cross-checking Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard in the face during the ensuing chaos.

Tyler Myers getting his shot in behind the scrum pic.twitter.com/mZrZHL7msT
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) January 19, 2025

This isn’t the first time McDavid’s actions have drawn scrutiny with two of the most glaring instances happening this week. On Wednesday, McDavid avoided supplemental discipline for an unpenalized elbow on Marcus Johansson of the Minnesota Wild, which left Johansson injured.

McDavid’s only career suspension occurred in 2019 after an illegal check to the head of Nick Leddy. Given that precedent, he may land another suspension following his actions on Saturday. The fact that he already escaped punishment as recently as last Wednesday might also swing the NHL's decision against him.

McDavid is fourth league-wide in total points scored with 65 in 43 games, including having the fourth-most assists in the NHL with 45.

On a slightly more negative development, McDavid has already racked up 29 penalties in minutes in 43 games this campaign (0.67 PIM per game) while he topped at 30 in 76 games (0.39 PIM/G) last season and earned 36 in 82 games (0.44 PIM/G) two years ago.

After Saturday's loss, the Oilers dropped to a 29-14-3 record and squandered the chance of overtaking the Vegas Golden Knights in the Pacific Division standings, both franchises now having the exact same record and 61 points through 46 games.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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