Vancouver Canucks defenceman Nikita Zadorov believes Carson Soucy's suspension was triggered by pressure from social media.
Soucy was suspended one game for a cross-check on Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid.
A skirmish began after the final buzzer sounded in Vancouver's 4-3 victory in Game 3 Sunday after Soucy shoved McDavid behind the Canucks' net and McDavid responded by hitting Soucy's leg with his stick.
Zadorov then cross-checked McDavid from behind, and Soucy cross-checked the Oilers captain in the face as he was falling. The Canucks defenceman was fined $5,000 by the NHL, the maximum amount allowed for cross-checking.
"He's a big part of the team, obviously it's a big loss for us," Zadorov said about the suspension handed to Soucy. "Unfortunately, that's the world we live in. Sometimes, social media and public views can create some hard decisions for specific people and might make questionable decisions at the end of the day. They have to protect their investment, that's my understanding of this situation.
"It's a hockey play, there's a lot of sticks, it's hard to see over there and there was no intention to hurt anyone. I saw my teammate get slashed and I had to step in there, like I have been for 11 years."
Vancouver leads the best-of-seven second-round series 2-1, with Game 4 set for Tuesday in Edmonton at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
Soucy told reporters Monday that he wasn't trying to injure McDavid on the play.
“It’s just an unfortunate incident due to some timing. … Obviously, there wasn’t intent to get a player up that high," he said before the suspension was announced.
“Emotions run high in those scrums at the end of the game.”
Zadorov has become public enemy No. 1 for Oilers fans in this series, not just for his play on the ice but for what he's said off the ice as well.
“It's fun. They have good fans. Diehard fans," Zadorov told reporters about playing in Edmonton. "Pretty much nothing else to do in that city except watch hockey. So, I like what they're doing, that's why they love their team and support them so hard.
"It's been fun. I've only had good experiences there, for sure."
The 29-year-old has four goals through nine post-season games with Vancouver, after finding the back of the net just six times during the regular season.
He is no stranger to playing in Edmonton, as he spent the past nine seasons of his 11-year career playing in the Western Conference.
--With files from the Canadian Press
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