Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid hasn't been afraid to speak up about officiating throughout his career, and he did so again Monday after his team's 4-3 pre-season win over the Calgary Flames.
The play in question this time occurred on McDavid's game-tying goal in the third period. Using his signature speed, McDavid cut around the Flames' defence and drove towards the net. As he did so, Flames defenceman Chris Tanev — in an attempt to push McDavid back — got his stick caught between McDavid's leg, causing the Oilers superstar to slide into the net.
A shot from Jesse Puljujarvi then ricocheted off McDavid and in. The goal counted after the Flames' video review challenge failed to overturn it.
After the game, McDavid called the play "dangerous" for both himself and goalie Jacob Markstrom.
"Obviously they have the right to defend their net and defend me trying to get in there but when the stick kinda comes into the feet there like Tanev's did it's a dangerous play for me and the goalie," McDavid said. "I think you'd like to see that called a little more."
Few people know how dangerous that play can be better than McDavid.
In the final game of the 2018-19 season, McDavid was tripped by former Flames captain Mark Giordano while driving to the net and suffered a torn PCL in his left knee, as well as a torn meniscus on both sides of the knee, cracked fibia and a popliteus muscle that was torn right off the bone.
McDavid opted not to have surgery -- which would have required more than a year to recover from -- and instead spent the summer rehabbing the injury, which allowed him to be in the opening night lineup that fall.
Now, after a similar play sent him flying into the net again Monday, he's speaking up.
