Carson Soucy speaks about nasty crosscheck against Connor McDavid

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Carson Soucy opened up about his contentious crosscheck on Edmonton Oilers' star player Connor McDavid during the NHL playoffs' second round. Soucy admitted the check, initially intended to "soften up" McDavid for subsequent games, was harsher than planned, especially after it unintentionally targeted McDavid's face.

Soucy's action, which occurred in a critical game moment, aimed to impose physical dominance but ended in a suspension, which he immediately anticipated. "As soon as it happened, I was like 'Oh Great I'm suspended.' It is unfortunate because obviously I wasn't going for his face, but at the same time it's at the end of the game where you know you're gonna get a win. You wanna just try and basically get a little bit of a lick on their best player. Unfortunately, he kind of got folded by Zadorov in the back," Soucy explained.

The incident was further complicated as McDavid was already off-balance due to a hit from Nikita Zadorov, making the crosscheck appear more violent than intended. Despite the apparent accident, the act was perceived as a deliberate attempt to injure McDavid, raising questions about fair play and sportsmanship in crucial playoff moments.

Interestingly, Soucy expressed surprise at the leniency of his punishment, having received only a one-game suspension—a lighter consequence than typically meted out for such infractions, especially involving high-profile players. This decision by Player Safety has sparked debates on whether playoff pressures are causing inconsistent disciplinary actions.

However, the Oilers were undeterred by the incident, closing out the series triumphantly. The resilience shown by McDavid and his team underscores the high stakes and intense rivalries in the NHL playoffs, promising more fiery encounters between these teams in the future.

With Coach Rick Tocchet at the helm, the Canucks have shown significant progress and are poised to be a formidable contender in the upcoming seasons. As tensions simmer, the rivalry between the Canucks and the Oilers is expected to escalate, setting the stage for more dramatic showdowns on the ice.

As the dust settles on this playoff series, the NHL community continues to debate the fine line between aggressive play and outright misconduct. Soucy's candid admission sheds light on the intense pressures players face and the split-second decisions that can define a game or a career.