Why Oilers' McDavid And Canucks' Myers Are Suspended Three Games

Connor McDavid and Tyler Myers received three-game suspensions for separate cross-checks late in the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks game.

In the dying seconds of the game between Edmonton and Vancouver, the Oilers were trailing 3-2 and looking for the equalizer with their goalie pulled.

On the play, McDavid and Conor Garland of the Canucks got tangled up near the blueline in Vancouver’s zone. The two continued to wrestle for over 10 seconds before getting to their feet.

The NHL Department of Player Safety noted that Garland restrained McDavid while McDavid also threw a gloved punch.

"Then, with the puck at the half wall, McDavid turns to face Garland, approaches him, draws back his stick with both hands and intentionally strikes Garland in the head with force," the department's video said.

Eventually, McDavid delivered a high cross-check to the side of Garland’s head. The play was stopped with two seconds remaining when a crowd of shoving matches emerged.

In the eyes of Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl, there wasn't anything out of the ordinary in the scrum. "It's hockey. It happens; it's intense," he told reporters post-game. "A little bit of fisticuffs but nothing major."

Off to the side of the scrum, Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard was alone with Myers. The Canucks blueliner handed Bouchard a high cross-check.

In Myers' suspension explanation, NHL Player Safety noted both players exchanged light slashes, which earned them minor penalties. As Bouchard approached Myers, the latter grabbed his stick with both hands, raised it and delivered the blow.

At practice on Monday, Myers said while the interaction looked bad, he said he "never intended to hit him in the face." He claimed that he started his cross-check lower on Bouchard's body but the Oiler's arms redirected the stick toward his face. Myers said that he's glad Bouchard is alright.

NHL Player Safety addressed those assertions.

"This cross-check is delivered cleanly to the head of Bouchard, and while we have heard Myers' assertion that he does not intent to strike Bouchard in this manner, players are responsible for their stick at all times," the video said.

McDavid and Myers received match penalties on the play with two seconds left in the game.

The Oilers and Canucks are set for a rematch on Thursday at Rogers Place. However, McDavid and Myers will miss that game.

McDavid will also miss Edmonton’s date with the Washington Capitals on Tuesday and their Saturday game against the Buffalo Sabres. Myers is ineligible to feature against the Sabres, the team that drafted him 12th overall in 2008, and the Capitals on Saturday.

NHL Player Safety has disciplined the two players before. In 2019, McDavid was handed a two-game suspension for an illegal check on New York Islanders’ Nick Leddy.

Myers has been suspended multiple times in his career. The first was in 2012 when he served a three-game suspension for boarding Scott Gomez of the Montreal Canadiens. Two years later, he was issued another three-game suspension for a high hit on Danius Zubrus of the New Jersey Devils.

McDavid will forfeit $195,312.50 in salary, for a total of $329,721.11, including his first suspension. Myers will forfeit $46,875 for his three-game suspension.

Related: McDavid And Garland Incident Proves Obstruction Is Still Alive And Well

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