On Saturday, the Edmonton Oilers faced off against the Vancouver Canucks at the Rogers Arena. Surprisingly, the Canucks performed admirably on their home ground, securing a comfortable 3-2 lead as the pressure mounted in the third period. Indeed, the Oilers were trying to score a goal, but the Canucks’ defense was on top. However, the moment Connor McDavid got his hands on the puck. He was ready to unleash what the fans know him for.

The Oilers captain was looking for a gap, but at that moment, Canucks right winger Conor Garland took away the puck from him. McDavid was not amused by this, and both players found themselves in an awkward position. Many anticipated a bout on the ice rink at Rogers Arena, but no one removed their gloves. In fact, #97 even cross-checked his rival on the head, sparking immediate controversy in the community. While McDavid got the match suspension, the fans weren’t pleased with the way the Oilers captain reacted on the ice rink. However, now an Oilers reporter unites with the community, going against the #97.

The Oilers captain found himself in deep trouble

McDavid’s single act on the ice rink has completely changed the way many view him in the NHL. Although the Canadian ice hockey player enjoys high respect, some fans have shifted their perspective after the Oilers captain struck Conor Garland on the head while he was wearing his full kit, including the hockey stick. Indeed, the hit could have been extremely dangerous for the Canucks’ right winger, but the fans were relieved that it wasn’t severe.

Pointing out the issue in this ice rink bout that never happened, Oilers reporter Daniel Nugent-Bowman shared his thoughts on X, stating, “Conor Garland deserved to be penalized for holding/pinning Connor McDavid, but the Oilers captain simply can’t do that. McDavid avoided supplemental discipline for his hit on Wild’s Marcus Johansson on Wednesday, but he probably won’t avoid a suspension here.” What the Canucks’ right winger did might have been in the heat of the moment, but it wasn’t right to hold down McDavid when he was trying to score in the final seconds of the game, according to the reporter. 

While Daniel pointed out Garland’s fault, he also emphasized that McDavid should not have cross-checked his rival on the head while wearing his kit. Furthermore, the Oilers reporter confirmed that the #97 might not be penalized further by the NHL officials owing to his antics on the ice rink on Saturday at the Rogers Arena. Indeed, McDavid is the captain of a historic NHL team, and whatever he did during the match against the Canucks is not what a leader should ever do, as it sets a bad example not only for the team but also for the fans who live owing to the heritage of the Oilers.

However, later on, Daniel got to know the statement issued by Canucks right winger. During a post-match interview, Garland shared his thoughts on his complications with McDavid on the ice rink, stating, “I’m just holding him. I mean, he’s the best player to ever do it. The time’s running out. I just thought that was maybe the best way for us to win a game was to do that.” Indeed, the Canucks were just protecting the puck from entering their net, as they already were leading 3-2 in the third period. What Garland did was not let McDavid score in the final moments of the game. Daniel responded by saying, “I appreciate the honesty.”

The Oilers reporter had nothing but admiration for the Canucks right winger and their ability to prevent tensions between him and McDavid from escalating. Fans undoubtedly enjoy watching fights on the rink, but they can also pose a risk to the players. The Oilers captain lost a significant number of supporters following this particular incident. However, a certain Canadian TV broadcaster was on his side, despite knowing what went down in the rink.

Keeping Connor McDavid on top priority

“Sits on the guy. Punches him in the back of the head while he is face down on the ice (not even legal in MMA). Elbows him in the face. Then cross-checks him in the face. Dirtiest player for sure.” This is what a fan said after they watched McDavid’s cross-check to Conor Garland on Saturday. Indeed, it was a risky move by the Oilers’ captain and could’ve resulted in a totally different outcome. Phew! Garland actually survived that concussion to his head.

Fans were disgusted by this move, but Sid Seixeiro was on the different side of the boat, stating, “Connor McDavid’s the best player in the world. If the refs aren’t going to stop this from happening, I’m fine with how 97 reacted. 100% fine with it.” The Canadian TV broadcaster drew attention to a specific detail from this incident. When McDavid and Garland were having their time on the rink, there wasn’t any referee to stop them or to advise them to drop their gloves for a fistfight. And even though McDavid was penalized, for Seixeiro, the Oilers’ captain’s actions were justified. Many in the NHL community undoubtedly hold varying perspectives on this incident, which they deem justified due to the sudden nature of the fight.