‘I don’t care what they think’: Canucks’ Tocchet responds to Oilers fans
While the Edmonton Oilers and their supporters disagree with the three-game suspension handed down to captain Connor McDavid as a result of his cross-check on Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland, they won’t be receiving any sympathy from Canucks bench boss Rick Tocchet.
“[Garland] held a guy, so is that wanted posters? I mean, I understand if he smashed him in the face or got in a fight, or did something … It’s a hold,” Tocchet told reporters Wednesday. “So I don’t really care what they think.”
Issued a three-game suspension Monday, McDavid missed his first contest Tuesday, an eventual 3-2 home ice loss to the NHL-leading Washington Capitals. Prior to the contest, the Oilers issued a statement, sharing their disappointment and echoing their fans’ frustration in the NHL Department of Player Safety’s ruling. Several of McDavid’s teammates also voiced their displeasure, including Oilers leading scorer Leon Draisaitl as well as veteran forward Corey Perry.
The incident leading to their suspension came in Saturday’s showdown between the two Pacific Division foes. Late in the third period, while held down by Garland, McDavid cross-checked the Canucks forward and was penalized with a match penalty. The ensuing melee also saw Canucks rearguard Tyler Myers assessed for cross-checking Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard. Like McDavid, Myers was handed a three-game suspension Monday.
The Oilers and Canucks are set to face off again Thursday – the second of the three-game ban for both McDavid and Myers – though Tocchet indicated that his team isn’t focused on retribution or renewing hostilities, telling reporters, “There is no vengeance. It’s just two points for us.”
Facing the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, the Canucks came up short of picking up two points, falling 3-2 in regulation. On the season, Vancouver sits 20-16-10, one point shy of the Western Conference’s second wildcard seed and 11 points back of the Oilers who rank second in the Pacific Division.