Cross-check from Oilers’ Hyman on Canucks’ Zadorov flies under radar

Amidst all the talk of cross-checks in Game 3 between the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers, one happened to fly under the radar.

Following Sunday night’s 4-3 victory for the Canucks, defencemen Nikita Zadorov and Carson Soucy were handed down punishments from the league for cross-checks laid on Oilers superstar Connor McDavid. Zadorov was fined $5,000 for cross-checking McDavid from behind, while Soucy was suspended one game for cross-checking the Oilers captain in the face.

What went largely unnoticed, however, was that Zadorov himself was also the victim of a cross-check to the face. And it went unpunished.

During the same scrum between the two teams at the end of the game, Zadorov was cross-checked in the face by Oilers forward Zach Hyman. According to Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy, the six-foot-six Zadorov had to receive stitches to close up a cut on his face as a result.

Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said in his media availability Monday that he believed the league would be taking a look at the Hyman play.

“(In) the playoffs there’s a lot of scrums, a lot of stuff happens,” said Tocchet. “Unfortunate with Connor getting hit from behind by (Zadorov) and then obviously what happened with (Soucy). His intent was to probably, after he got slashed, to hit him in the chest. Unfortunately he went down.

“And then after that, (Zadorov) got cross-checked by Hyman. So, it’s unfortunate. I think there’s a couple of incidents that (NHL Department of Player Safety head George Parros) is looking at right now.”

According to The Province‘s Patrick Johnston, a league spokesperson said that while all incidents of potential foul play are reviewed, they were not aware of any forthcoming fine or hearing for Hyman’s cross-check on Zadorov.

With the temperature rising to a higher degree every meeting between the Oilers and Canucks, Game 4 on Tuesday is sure to see even more heated moments.

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