The Edmonton Oilers are coming off a disappointing 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, but a dramatic situation between Connor McDavid and Conor Garland has sparked some heated conversation around the NHL. While the Oilers were attempting a ferocious come back, Conor Garland pinned McDavid down to the ice, resulting in frustrations to boil over.
Tyler Myers and Connor McDavid will both receive hearings from NHL Player and safety for their respective cross checks late in the game.
Conor Garland admits to holding McDavid
According to Liam McCormick of Oilers Daily, speaking to the media after the game, Conor Garland practically admitted that he mobbed McDavid in an attempt to stop Edmonton's best player.
«Ah, you know, I'm just holding him. I mean, he's the best player to ever do it. So, you know, the time's running out and I just thought that was maybe the best way for us to win a game was to do that.
He's a passionate guy. He's a good dude. I mean, I don't think he was just his passion. It's a tight game late in the game. Everybody has the fire in their belly trying to win a hockey game.
- Connor Garland
Oilers Daily adds that Garland knows that what he did should've been called a penalty immediately, but also that it wouldn't have mattered much in the final seconds of the game.
The referee's have now become the centre of attention regarding the physical altercation.
According to the NHL rules, officials had every right to blow the play dead when McDavid was being held, and the entire situation could have been avoided if they had done so.
It should be interesting to see how NHL Player and Safety handles the situation moving forward.