So, about last night...
I see McDavid's outburst at the end of the third as a culmination of many non-calls not just last night but over the course of the entire roadtrip.
- A number of vicious slewfoots on key players, none of which were called on the ice (Kempe got fined for one after but somehow the refs didn't call any of it)
- Persistent interference on many players, but specifically McDavid
Last night:
- Canucks get a powerplay goal off of two missed calls back to back, interference on the winger in the slot, followed by an egregious trip on Nurse that somehow the ref didn't think warranted a call
- McDavid gets persistently interfered with the entire game with impunity
- Canucks have about 14 players on the ice with no too many men
And then to top it all, Garland, the little bugger decides to go full wrestle mode on him with 30 seconds left in the game as the Oilers are desperately trying to tie the game. An illegal play that went uncalled and secured the win for the Canucks. That was not a hockey play, and completely and obviously against the rules, and so Connor retaliated.
Connor will and should get suspended, but Garland more than deserved to get one in the chops after that performance. I believe it will be 1 game for each player, probably should be 2 for McDavid and 3 for Myers, I think they will just get 1 game each because the league will want both players in the game on Thursday for the plot.
Myers should get one more game because he did it after the whistle, and it was completely unprovoked.
All the responsibility for that end of the game outburst lands squarely on the officials for allowing the game to get out of control and Bieksa said it right afterwards, the star players aren't going to fight with 30 seconds left in a game and so if you don't call the game properly as an official, you get cheap shots.
Wes McCaulley and Chris Lee need a stern talking to after that performance.
