The NHL has suspended Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid for three games for his cross-check to the head of Vancouver Canucks winger Conor Garland.
McDavid was given a match penalty late in the Canucks’ 3-2 win over Edmonton on Saturday in Vancouver when he slammed his stick into Garland’s head.
The penalty came after McDavid and Garland got tangled up and fell to the ice, with the Vancouver winger grabbing McDavid to prevent Edmonton’s captain from getting back into the play.
In a video explaining the suspension, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety said McDavid retaliated against Garland “aggressively and intentionally, escalating the altercation by raising his stick significantly.”
It’s the second career suspension for McDavid. He received a two-game ban in February 2019 for an illegal check to the head of New York Islanders defenceman Nick Leddy.
Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers was also suspended three games for cross-checking Edmonton defenceman Evan Bouchard in the head.
The match penalties were part of a chaotic melee at the end of the game that saw every other skater on the ice receive a minor penalty for roughing.
McDavid will be eligible to return when the Oilers host Seattle on Jan. 27. Myers will be out until the Canucks visit St. Louis the same day.
Both will miss the rematch on Thursday when the Oilers host the Canucks.
McDavid will forfeit $195,312.51 US under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Myers will forfeit $46,875.
