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Canucks' Tyler Myers offers brutal explanation for cross check on Evan Bouchard
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
Vancouver Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers was suspended three games for his aggressive cross check on Evan Bouchard, and while trying to defend himself, offered a lacklustre explanation.
Connor McDavid and Tyler Myers were given equal suspensions of three games, when their offences and explanations were very different.
Tyler Myers Gives Brutal Explanation for Cross Check on Evan Bouchard
Speaking to Canucks reporter Jeff Patterson after practice, Myers explained that he meant to cross check Bouchard in the body, but lost control of his stick.
Says intent was to hit Bouchard lower but also knows he misfired. Sounds like he's ready to accept his punishment. Acknowledged that Bouchard didn't present a threat in that moment. Just a split second decision that went wrong
Myers even acknowledging that Bouchard wasn't antagonizing him prior adds to the fact that the Canucks defenceman was just trying to injure the Oiler.
It's ridiculous to suggest that an NHL defenceman lost control of his stick so badly that he connected with the face of his opponent - instead of a quality random and forceful strike to the body.
For such an unprovoked and forceful cross check to the face with intent to injure, Myers should've got more games. Saying he lost control of his stick is practically no justification too.
Was Connor McDavid suspended for too long?
On the other hand, Connor McDavid was being mobbed on the ice by Connor Garland, with no penalty called, before he snapped with the cross check.
McDavid deserved to be suspended, but three games is too much, and his explanation has so much more weight than Myers'. McDavid's was a retaliation more than an intent to injure.
Similar suspensions for cross checks have got less games than McDavid's sentence. Auston Matthews got 2 games for a check on Dahlin, and Soucy only got one for a check on McDavid in the playoffs. Player Safety's decisions look random.
Hopefully the Oilers can at least rally together and improve their play as a whole without the captain in the lineup.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 21 | 954 ANSWERS Canucks' Tyler Myers offers brutal explanation for cross check on Evan Bouchard Do you think Myers should've been suspended for longer than McDavid? | ||
| Yes | 724 | 75.9 % |
| No | 230 | 24.1 % |
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