Vancouver Canucks defenceman Nikita Zadorov seems to have some ideas about why <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/05/13/zadorov-fined-soucy-to-have-hearing-for-post-game-cross-checks-on-oilers-mcdavid/">he was fined</a> and Carson Soucy <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/05/13/canucks-soucy-has-been-suspended-one-game-for-his-cross-check-on-oilers-mcdavid/">was suspended</a> for their roles in an altercation with Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid at the end of Sunday&#8217;s Game 3.

Zadorov had to forfeit $5,000 after cross-checking McDavid from behind into the path of a second cross-check by Soucy, who was suspended one game after his own stick connected with McDavid&#8217;s face. The incident occurred shortly after time expired in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal series between the Oilers and Canucks.
After a period of intense scrutiny from all corners of the hockey world, the NHL&#8217;s Department of Player Safety handed down its decisions to Zadorov and Soucy on Monday.
&#8220;Unfortunately, that&#8217;s the world we&#8217;re living in,&#8221; Zadorov said. &#8220;Sometimes, social media and the public&#8217;s views can create some hard decisions for specific people, and they might make questionable decisions at the end of the day. That&#8217;s how I look at it.
&#8220;At the end of the day, they have to protect their investment,&#8221; Zadorov added. &#8220;That&#8217;s my understanding in this situation.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
“We can expect a push from them. It’s going to be physical…That’s what we expect every game.”
🗣 Hear from Nikita Zadorov ahead of Game Four tonight in Edmonton.<a href="https://twitter.com/theprovince?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theprovince</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> <a href="https://t.co/rs4262AvLJ">pic.twitter.com/rs4262AvLJ</a>
&mdash; Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1790458757111304661?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Canucks defeated the Oilers by a 4-3 final score on Sunday to take a 2-1 series lead. Arturs Silovs made 42 saves for Vancouver, which was outshot 45 to 18 in the contest.
Neither McDavid nor Zach Hyman was assessed any discipline during the game or by the Department of Player Safety for their roles in the altercation, which officially went into the books as occurring at the 20:00 mark of the third period.
With Soucy unavailable for Game 4, the Canucks are expected to turn to Noah Juulsen as their No. 6 defenceman for their next game against the Oilers on Tuesday evening.
The Oilers are expected to make lineup changes of their own: <a href="http://oilersnation.com/2024/05/14/oilers-reportedly-starting-calvin-pickard-in-game-4-against-canucks/">Calvin Pickard has been tapped to start</a> on Tuesday after Game 3 starter Stuart Skinner allowed four goals on 15 shots in his last outing. Meanwhile, McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/05/14/the-oilers-are-splitting-up-connor-mcdavid-and-leon-draisaitl/">start on different lines</a>.
Brock Boeser and Elias Lindholm both scored twice in the Canucks&#8217; win over the Oilers on Sunday. The two teams will reconvene at Rogers Place in Edmonton at 7:30 p.m. MT on Tuesday for Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series.

Vancouver Canucks defenceman Nikita Zadorov seems to have some ideas about why <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/05/13/zadorov-fined-soucy-to-have-hearing-for-post-game-cross-checks-on-oilers-mcdavid/">he was fined</a> and Carson Soucy <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/05/13/canucks-soucy-has-been-suspended-one-game-for-his-cross-check-on-oilers-mcdavid/">was suspended</a> for their roles in an altercation with Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid at the end of Sunday's Game 3.



Zadorov had to forfeit $5,000 after cross-checking McDavid from behind into the path of a second cross-check by Soucy, who was suspended one game after his own stick connected with McDavid's face. The incident occurred shortly after time expired in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal series between the Oilers and Canucks.

After a period of intense scrutiny from all corners of the hockey world, the NHL's Department of Player Safety handed down its decisions to Zadorov and Soucy on Monday.

"Unfortunately, that's the world we're living in," Zadorov said. "Sometimes, social media and the public's views can create some hard decisions for specific people, and they might make questionable decisions at the end of the day. That's how I look at it.

"At the end of the day, they have to protect their investment," Zadorov added. "That's my understanding in this situation."

https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1790458757111304661

The Canucks defeated the Oilers by a 4-3 final score on Sunday to take a 2-1 series lead. Arturs Silovs made 42 saves for Vancouver, which was outshot 45 to 18 in the contest.

Neither McDavid nor Zach Hyman was assessed any discipline during the game or by the Department of Player Safety for their roles in the altercation, which officially went into the books as occurring at the 20:00 mark of the third period.

With Soucy unavailable for Game 4, the Canucks are expected to turn to Noah Juulsen as their No. 6 defenceman for their next game against the Oilers on Tuesday evening.

The Oilers are expected to make lineup changes of their own: <a href="http://oilersnation.com/2024/05/14/oilers-reportedly-starting-calvin-pickard-in-game-4-against-canucks/">Calvin Pickard has been tapped to start</a> on Tuesday after Game 3 starter Stuart Skinner allowed four goals on 15 shots in his last outing. Meanwhile, McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/05/14/the-oilers-are-splitting-up-connor-mcdavid-and-leon-draisaitl/">start on different lines</a>.

Brock Boeser and Elias Lindholm both scored twice in the Canucks' win over the Oilers on Sunday. The two teams will reconvene at Rogers Place in Edmonton at 7:30 p.m. MT on Tuesday for Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series.

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