Vancouver fans missed the whole point about Connor McDavid's suspension
The Vancouver Canucks and the hockey media seem to have misread the true source of frustration for Edmonton Oilers fans heading into tonight's rematch.
Connor McDavid's cross-check on Garland that led to his three-game suspension wasn't just about that one play, it was the accumulation of ongoing frustrations with inconsistent officiating.
Connor McDavid has seen a big decline in penalties drawn and he's on pace to draw nearly half as many penalties as last year.
Despite being one of the league's most targeted players, he only ranks 197th in penalties drawn per 60 minutes and Oilers fans have long felt that the league fails to protect its top players like Connor McDavid's.
Adding insult to the injury is the suspension itself since Connor McDavid's three-game suspension for the cross-check is viewed as very harsh when compared to similar incidents.
Past cases like the one of Auston Matthews' and Carson Soucy's cross-check suspensions set a precedent of two games, and sometimes playoff suspensions are often reduced further.
Comments from Canucks coach Rick Tocchet and Conor Garland paint the picture of a personal rivalry and it's Garland that is being positioned as public enemy number one in Edmonton.
However, the real target of frustration isn't Garland or the Canucks, it's the referees and the NHL's with their inconsistent handling of calls and suspensions.
Instead of stirring the pot with comments about a rivalry, the Canucks and hockey media would do well to acknowledge the larger issue at play.
Tonight's game may show some extra physicality but the frustration in Edmonton is deeper than one play like the one including Garland.
What do you think?
Are Oilers fans right to focus their frustration on the league, or is the Canucks' narrative about Garland justified?
