The NHL’s Department of Player Safety will conduct a phone hearing with Vancouver Canucks defenceman Carson Soucy as a result of his actions against Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid after the final buzzer sounded in Sunday’s playoff game, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Monday morning.
Soucy delivered a cross-check to McDavid’s face just after the end of regulation time in the Canucks’ 4-3 win over the Oilers in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal playoff series. McDavid was off-balance when Soucy’s stick connected with him after being hit by Canucks defenceman Nikita Zadorov moments prior.
Although the game had just ended, Soucy was assessed a two-minute cross-checking on the play (it went onto the scoresheet at the 20:00 mark of the third period). Zadorov did not receive a penalty, nor did McDavid for his two-handed slash on Soucy immediately before the cross-checks. McDavid did not sustain an apparent injury as a result of the play.
Soucy, 29, logged 17:48 of ice time and finished with a plus-one rating in the Canucks’ Game 3 victory in Edmonton. The Viking, Alberta product also racked up three hits in the contest. Through nine games with the Canucks these playoffs, Soucy has four assists while averaging 17:26 per night.
The Canucks originally signed Soucy to a three-year contract carrying a $3.25 million annual cap hit as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2023. The 6’5″ left-handed defenceman currently has a full no-trade clause in his deal.
McDavid was held without a point on Sunday for the first time in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 27-year-old forward took four shots on goal in 29:42 of ice time but finished the game scoreless and with an even rating.
The Oilers outshot the Canucks 45 to 18 in Game 3. They poured it on in the third period, taking 22 shots to Vancouver’s three but only beating Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs once, with just 1:16 remaining in regulation.
It remains to be seen whether Soucy will be available to the Canucks when the two teams meet up once again in Game 4 at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Tuesday, with the Oilers looking to even the series at two games apiece and Vancouver gunning for a 3-1 lead.