January 18, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) battles with Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland (8) in the third period at Rogers Area. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Pictures
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid has a disciplinary hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Monday and faces a possible suspension.
The seven-time All-Star received a match penalty for checking Canucks forward Conor Garland in the face during the final seconds of the Oilers’ 3-2 loss Saturday in Vancouver. The incident caused a crowd of players on the ice.
McDavid, 28, has 65 points (20 goals, 45 assists) in 43 games. The three-time Hart Trophy winner received a 15-minute penalty on Saturday after entering the night with just 14 on the season.
“Connor gets frustrated and picks up his stick,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. “He’s frustrated because we’re down a goal and the best player in the league is being held up for 15 seconds.”
Garland held McDavid and the pair battled to the ice before McDavid retaliated with a cross-handle.
“I’m just holding him up,” Garland told reporters after the game. “I mean, he’s the best player to ever do it. So, time is running out. And I thought maybe the best way to win a game was to do it. I don’t want to hurt him.
“You know, I don’t want to hurt him, I want to hug him and hurt him that way. So try to get up and hold it,” he said.
“But he’s a passionate guy. He’s a good guy. I mean, I don’t think it was just his passion. It’s a close game at the end of the game. Everyone has a fire in their belly trying to win a hockey game. So that’s what happens.”
McDavid’s only suspension so far in his 10-year career was a two-game suspension in February 2019 after an illegal head tackle on New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy.
–Media at field level
