Oilers’ McDavid and Canucks’ Myers Likely to Be Suspended

Saturday night’s hockey game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks ended in a 3-2 win for the Canucks. It was a win the Canucks needed and a loss the Oilers likely didn’t expect. But the secondary story (likely to dominate the headlines) happened with two seconds left. 

The Canucks had all but clinched a 3-2 victory, but the score suddenly became a secondary storyline. Edmonton was putting heavy pressure on Vancouver, and the Canucks were doing everything they could to fight off the Oilers charge. One team tussled to score, and the other to keep their opponents from scoring. 

Garland Started the Ruckus, McDavid Ended It

Conor Garland started the ruckus at the game’s end by tackling Connor McDavid and then holding him on the ice so he couldn’t move. McDavid struggled to rise, but unsuccessfully. While this was happening, the clock was slowly ticking down. Garland knew he would draw a penalty, but with so little time left, he considered it worth it to neutralize McDavid. 

McDavid became visibly frustrated. When he finally pushed himself up, he went at Garland with his stick, giving him a vicious crosscheck across the face/visor. No punches were thrown, but sticks were used as weapons. Across the ice, as the Oilers’ Evan Bouchard skated at Tyler Myers, Myers gave Bouchard a similar cross-check across the face/visor. 

Both actions were unnecessary – as if hitting an opponent with your stick across the chops could ever be deemed necessary. Ironically, both McDavid and Myers are character players and team leaders. While Myers doesn’t carry the same superstar status McDavid carries, they’ll likely be given equal penalties because the actions happened so close in time and space to each other. 

Certainly, penalties (likely suspensions) will be given.  

Match Penalties Tonight for Both Myers and McDavid, But What’s Next?

Both Garland and Myers received match penalties and were kicked off the ice for the remaining two seconds of the game. The incident now will be reviewed by the league. What will the repercussions be?

The panel on Hockey Night in Canada weighed in. They all agreed that the crosschecks warranted suspensions. Both teams are fighting for postseason berths, and their suspensions will hurt their respective teams. McDavid’s Oilers are gunning for the top spot in the Pacific Division. Myers’ Canucks are fighting to stay alive in the playoff hunt.