The Vancouver Canucks squeaked out a 4-3 win against the Edmonton Oilers, for a 2-1 series lead, and things got wild right after the final buzzer.
Arturs Silovs was a superhero in goal, making save after 42 saves on 45 shots, including a clutch stop against Connor McDavid to seal the victory.
Yet the real drama came following the save. Canucks' defenseman Carson Soucy decided to give McDavid a little shove, and McDavid wasn't having it. He retaliated with a slash at Soucy's legs. Then Soucy swung back with a cross-check, catching McDavid high, while Nikita Zadorov got in on the action with a cross-check to McDavid's back.
Soucy ended up with a cross-checking penalty for his troubles. Still, the real question is whether the NHL's Department of Player Safety will dig into this mess, especially since it involves none other than McDavid himself.
However, that action was over the line. It's intense at playoff time, but there's a difference between intense and reckless. After the final buzzer, things simmer down, but not this time. Sure, he got charged with a minor penalty for a cross check to the face right at the buzzer, but, that's not enough if the NHL doesn't step in with some discipline. And if the Canucks want any shot at Game 4, they better hope Soucy's still in the lineup. Regardless, be in for tough sledding with an enraged Oilers team looking to even the score one way or another.
