Connor McDavid, Tyler Myers each handed 3-game suspensions for cross-checks

Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid and Vancouver Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers person each been handed a three-game suspension.

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced the subject aft holding telephone hearings with some players connected Monday afternoon.

The suspensions subordinate to abstracted crosschecks to opponents’ heads delivered by each subordinate successful the dying seconds of Saturday’s matchup astatine Rogers Arena successful Vancouver, arsenic the Oilers sought to necktie the crippled with their goalie pulled.

In McDavid’s case, the offending cross-check came aft Vancouver guardant Conor Garland tied the superstar up and the brace wrestled connected the crystal successful beforehand of the Canucks’ net.

In a video explaining its decision, the Department of Player Safety described Garland restraining McDavid, and McDavid responding with a gloved punch.

McDavid past gets free, turns to look his opponent, draws his instrumentality backmost with some hands and “intentionally strikes Garland successful the caput with force.”

“This is not a regular question to container retired an hostile oregon to summation assemblage position,” the video states. “Having conscionable been progressive physically with Garland, McDavid retaliates aggressively and intentionally.”

Following the crippled Garland acknowledged helium was holding McDavid.

“I’m conscionable holding him. I mean, he’s the champion subordinate to ever bash it. So, the time’s moving out. And I conscionable thought that was possibly the champion mode for america to triumph a crippled was to bash that,” Garland said of the battle. “I don’t privation to wounded him.”

It’s the 2nd vocation suspension for McDavid. He received a two-game prohibition successful February 2019 for an amerciable cheque to the caput of New York Islanders defenceman Nick Leddy.

Myers’ cross-check came conscionable moments later, aft helium finished a cheque against Bouchard arsenic the whistle blew.

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The 2 exchanged airy slashes, for which they were some penalized earlier Bouchard approached Myers with his instrumentality successful 1 hand.

Myers past raises his instrumentality with 2 hands, draws it backmost and “delivers a stroke that hits Bouchard straight successful the face,” according to the Department of Player Safety.

“This cross-check is delivered cleanly to the caput of Bouchard,” the video states.

“While we person heard Myers’ assertion helium does not mean to onslaught Bouchard successful this manner, players are liable for their instrumentality astatine each times.”

This is Myers’ 3rd vocation suspension.

In the aftermath of the checks, crippled officials handed some Myers and McDavid were assessed a lucifer punishment — subject fixed erstwhile officials find a subordinate has intentionally injured — oregon tried to injure — an opponent.

The authorisation carries an automatic suspension until the NHL’s commissioner weighs in.

McDavid will beryllium eligible to instrumentality erstwhile the Oilers big Seattle connected Jan. 27. Myers volition beryllium retired until the Canucks sojourn St. Louis the aforesaid day.

McDavid will forfeit US$195,312.51 nether the presumption of the corporate bargaining statement betwixt the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association. The wealth goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Myers volition forfeit US$46,875.

— with files from the Canadian Press