McDavid & Myers Suspended by NHL

The NHL dropped the hammer on two star players Monday, suspending Connor McDavid and Tyler Myers for three games each after an ugly sequence in Vancouver’s 3-2 win over Edmonton.

Both players crossed a line with dangerous cross-checks. McDavid went high on Conor Garland in what looked like payback for being pinned down. Myers then took things further, targeting Evan Bouchard’s head during a stoppage.

The timing couldn’t be worse for these Pacific Division rivals – they’re set to face off again Thursday. But both players will be watching from the press box.

“It’s a clear message from the league,” said ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski. “Retaliation isn’t going to fly.”

The Oilers might feel the sting more, losing McDavid for the second time this season. Their captain and three-time MVP already missed three games in October with an ankle injury.

But here’s the thing – Edmonton actually did pretty well without him, going 2-1 and putting up nine goals in their two victories.

McDavid’s been his usual dominant self this year, leading the team with 45 assists and sitting second with 65 points.

“Obviously, you don’t want to miss any time,” McDavid said about his earlier absence. “But thinking about what could’ve been, yeah, I guess we’re lucky it’s as short as it is.”

The same could be said about this suspension.

The Oilers (29-14-3) are tied for first in the Pacific, but they’ll need to keep their cool moving forward. Coach Kris Knoblauch sees it as a chance for others to step up.

Both teams would be smart to let this rivalry simmer down. The NHL’s made it crystal clear – they won’t tolerate players taking justice into their own hands.