The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has suspended Vancouver’s Carson Soucy and fined Nikita Zadorov for a post-game incident against the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid after Game 3.
After the final whistle sounded, players from both teams came together behind the net. Soucy shoved Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who retaliated with a slash. Soucy returned the slash to McDavid’s shins. Zadorov then moved in from behind and cross-checked McDavid in the back as Soucy delivered a high cross-check to McDavid’s head.
Soucy was given a minor penalty for cross-checking, which only served to pad his penalty minute stats as the game had already concluded. While the refs’ work was done, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety wasn’t quite finished with the two Canucks players.
Player Safety issued a $5000 fine to Zadorov and suspended Soucy for one game.
From the Department of Player Safety’s ruling:
Late in the third period the Oilers have sustained pressure as they attempt to tie the game. The puck bounces behind the net as the game ends and Soucy and McDavid end up behind the net facing each other. Soucy shoves McDavid, who retaliates with a slash to the leg.
Soucy slashes McDavid back. then raises his stick with both hands, draws the stick back, and delivers a forceful, high, two-handed cross check to McDavid that makes direct contact with McDavid’s head. This is cross-checking.
It is important to note that McDavid is cross-checked in the back by Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov as Soucy delivers his cross check, a blow for which Zadorov was fined. We acknowledge Soucy’s argument that the cross check by Zadorov is forceful enough to cause a change of McDavid’s position and may contribute to Soucy’s cross-check landing to the head. However, this does not change the fact that Soucy’s actions merit supplemental discipline.
This play happens well after the game has ended and it is not a hockey play. In an altercation with an opponent, Soucy chooses to raise his stick to an unacceptably high level, draws the stick back, and delivers a two-handed blow which lands to his opponent’s head.
McDavid was not injured on the play. He also did not receive any disciplinary action for his initial slash.
Soucy downplayed the crosscheck after the game.
“Just an unfortunate incident due to some timing,” said Soucy. “Obviously wasn’t any intent to get a player up that high.”
The Canucks defenseman has been suspended once prior; with the Wild in 2021, he sat for one game for charging.
Zadorov’s fine is the maximum allowable under the league’s collective bargaining agreement without a formal hearing. Soucy will miss Game 4, but forfeits no salary as players are not paid in the playoffs.
“They have to protect their investment,” Zadorov said of the NHL, referring to McDavid. “That’s my understanding.”
The Vancouver Canucks won the game 4-3 to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven second round series. Officials for the game were referees Chris Rooney (#5) and Graham Skilliter (#24), with linespersons Scott Cherrey (#50) and Ryan Gibbons (#58).
