Connor McDavid, Tyler Myers suspended 3 games for cross checking

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers have both been suspended three games after delivering cross-checks to opponents’ heads in a game between the teams on Saturday night.

It is the longest suspension of McDavid’s 10-year NHL career, during which he has won the Hart Trophy as league MVP three times and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP last postseason.

McDavid delivered a cross-check to the head of Canucks forward Conor Garland. Myers hit Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard in the head with a crosscheck. Both players received match penalties in the third period on Saturday night. The length of their suspensions means neither McDavid nor Myers will be available when the teams meet again in Edmonton on Thursday night.

With less than a minute left in regulation and the Canucks ahead 3-2, McDavid and Vancouver forward Garland toppled to the ice. As McDavid tried to get back to his skates, Garland held his arm, resulting in McDavid giving him a gloved slap to free himself. When McDavid tried to return to the play, Garland wrapped his arms around the Edmonton captain to take him to the ice a second time.

As Garland continued to obstruct McDavid as both reached their feet, McDavid delivered a stiff cross-check to Garland’s head.

“Connor gets frustrated and he gets his stick up,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said after the game. “He’s frustrated because we’re down by a goal and the best player in the league is being held for 15 seconds. There’s frustration that (it’s) been allowed to happen and his stick went up.”

The Department of Player Safety noted that this was not a routine play by McDavid to take out an opponent or gain body position.

“After being physically engaged by Garland, McDavid aggressively and deliberately retaliates, escalating the altercation by raising his stick significantly and making this contact: a high crosscheck that makes direct contact with an opponent’s head with sufficient force to warrant supplemental discipline. ” the department said in its suspension video.

McDavid was previously suspended once in his NHL career for an illegal check to the head of the Islanders’ Nick Leddy in February 2019. He was also fined $5,000 in March 2021 for elbowing Jesperi Kotkaniemi of the Canadiens. McDavid is fourth in the NHL in scoring with 65 points in 43 games.

“Connor plays through a lot. Ironically, he doesn’t draw many penalties,” Knoblauch said. “He’s under scrutiny every time he’s on the ice because he’s so dangerous. He can handle more than the average player.”

Right after McDavid cross-checked Garland, Myers cross-checked Bouchard in the head. Myers completed a check on Bouchard along the boards as the play was called dead. The two players exchanged light slashes, but as Bouchard slid toward Myers with one hand on her stick, Myers delivered a crosscheck to Bouchard’s head with both hands on her stick. Bouchard’s neck snapped back and he quickly grabbed his face as he fell to the ice.

The Department of Player Safety said Myers claimed he did not intend to deliver a cross check to Bouchard’s head. Video replay shows Bouchard’s gloves coming up as Myers delivers the cross check. However, the department said it did not believe Myers delivered a cross check that was “aimed at the body riding up by the opponent,” but one that was “delivered clean to the head by Bouchard” on the play.

“This is a deliberate cross-check by Myers, who raises his stick significantly to initiate this contact,” the department said in its suspension video.

Myers was suspended three games for boarding Montreal’s Scott Gomez in March 2012 and another three games for an illegal check on Devils’ leader Dainius Zubrus in 2014. He had also been fined twice in his NHL career. Myers has 13 points in 45 games and is third on the Canucks in average ice time (20:33).

McDavid will lose $195,312.51 in salary. Myers loses $46,875.00. The money goes to Spillernes Akutfond. Both players are eligible to appeal their suspensions to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who will have the final say on those appeals.