Vancouver Canucks' Garland has blunt response to being Edmonton's No. 1 enemy
They’re putting up wanted posters for Vancouver Canucks winger Conor Garland in Edmonton.
The 5-foot-10 winger is public enemy number-one for Edmonton Oilers fans as the Canucks prepare to visit tomorrow night. In these two teams’ most recent contest, Garland held star Connor McDavid against the ice in the dying seconds, leading McDavid to deliver a vicious cross-check in retaliation.
The Oilers star was suspended for three games, as was Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers for a similar cross-check on the same play. The league’s decision sent Edmonton into a tizzy, and Garland is who much of their frustration has been targeted toward.
That extra attention isn’t worrying the 28-year-old.
“I do not care,” said Garland. “I try to just play each and every day and give forth a good effort every day in practice and games.”
“Whatever happened, happened. I didn’t hurt him, didn’t slew-foot him, or hit him in the head. I guess they’re upset about the hold, but I didn’t try to injure him. Whatever comes with that, comes with that.”
While it may not be too often that Garland has a target on his back nowadays, that wasn’t always the case. The Massachusetts native says he used to get it more often in junior hockey, but things have changed.
“That was when I was a good player. I don’t think teams are having meetings about me before games anymore. It’s a little different,” he joked.
The Garland-McDavid incident is the latest in what’s become a fun rivalry between the Canucks and Oilers. There’s a lot of bad blood between the two teams, and tomorrow’s contest should be another excellent game. It’s partly why this seemingly nothing incident has blown up so much.
“Yeah, he held the guy, so is that [worth] wanted posters? I understand if he smashed him in the face or got in a fight or did something. It’s a hold,” said head coach Rick Tocchet.
The Canucks desperately need to string together a few wins, not only to get their mojo back but also to stay in the playoff race. They’ll look to beat the Oilers, as they did the other night, in enemy territory tomorrow night.