NHL Player Safety suspends Carson Soucy one game for cross-checking Connor McDavid

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has suspended Vancouver Canucks defenceman Carson Soucy one game for cross-checking Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid after the final buzzer sounded in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal playoff series.

The league handed down its decision on Monday afternoon shortly after conducting a phone hearing with the 29-year-old defender. Earlier in the day, the league also fined Canucks defenceman Nikita Zadorov $5,000 for his role in the incident.

Soucy will miss Game 4 between the Canucks and Oilers at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Tuesday evening. He’ll be eligible to return to action when the series shifts back to Vancouver for Game 5 on Thursday.

As NHL players are not paid during the playoffs, Soucy will not forfeit any of his salary while serving his suspension. Soucy was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for cross-checking as a result of the incident, which officially occurred at the 20:00 mark of the third period on Sunday.

The Canucks defeated the Oilers by a 4-3 score on Sunday to take a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4. Brock Boeser and Elias Lindholm both scored twice for the Canucks, while Arturs Silovs outdueled Stuart Skinner with 42 saves for his fourth career playoff victory.

The Oilers lost all four of their games against the Canucks during the 2023-24 regular season and are now back in a hole against the Pacific Division champions, who have continued along relatively unimpeded despite losing both Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith to injury earlier in the playoffs.

Soucy has played a large role in the Canucks’ success thus far in the postseason, although he made a significant gaffe leading to McDavid’s tying goal in Game 2 back in Vancouver. The Viking, Alberta product is in the first season of the three-year deal he signed with the Canucks back on July 1, 2023.

With Soucy now officially out of commission for Game 4, it appears the Canucks will turn to Noah Juulsen to fill his vacated spot in the lineup. The 27-year-old righty appeared in 54 games with the Canucks during the regular season, racking up seven points.

Game 4 between the Canucks and Oilers is scheduled to take place at 6:30 p.m. PT on Thursday night at Rogers Place in Edmonton.