Edmonton: So, the big matchup everyone was buzzing about—Connor McDavid versus Alex Ovechkin—didn’t quite go as planned. Instead, McDavid’s cross-check on Conor Garland at the end of a tight game against the Canucks has everyone talking.
Honestly, it’s hard to see how he won’t get at least a one-game suspension for that move. The refs let the game get out of hand, and McDavid’s frustration boiled over. If they had called the play earlier, maybe he wouldn’t have felt the need to retaliate.
Garland was all over McDavid, holding him back while the clock was ticking down. It turned into a bit of a wrestling match, and when things got heated, McDavid lost his cool. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch pointed out that it’s tough to watch the best player in the league getting held like that.
Leon Draisaitl, who scored two goals in the game, took it all in stride. He said it’s just part of hockey and that sometimes things get intense. But McDavid’s actions were definitely not okay, even if you can understand where they came from.
Then there’s Tyler Myers, who also got a match penalty for cross-checking Evan Bouchard in the face. Not the best choice, especially when he could’ve just dropped the gloves instead. Both players will have to explain themselves to the league now.
The Oilers had a rough night overall. They’ve been on a roll lately, but the Canucks came out strong, scoring three goals in the first period. Draisaitl tried to bring them back, but they just couldn’t find that third goal to tie it up.
Knoblauch mentioned that giving up two power-play goals was a big factor in the loss. The Oilers had been doing well, but they just couldn’t generate enough offense this time.
After a tough stretch of games, they ended up with a decent record, but this loss stings a bit. They’ll need to regroup and focus on the next game.
