"Should be 40 games" "Not a Leaf so no Suspension": NHL fans left speculating over Connor McDavid's hearing for cross-check on Conor Garland's face

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid is set for a phone hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety after delivering a cross-check to Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland late in the Oilers' 3-2 loss on Saturday.

The incident occurred after McDavid got entangled with Garland and responded by forcefully cross-checking him in the face as he was getting up.

McDavid was assessed a penalty for the dangerous play, automatically triggering a hearing with the league's player safety division.

Fans shared their thoughts on social media and speculated on what kind of suspension the Oilers superstar captain may receive.

"Should be 40 games," a fan tweeted.

"Not a Leaf so no Suspension, why are people surprised about this?" another fan wrote.

Here are more fan reactions.

"2-3 games, he could use the rest anyways" one fan wrote.

"The @nhl will suspend McDavid, as they should. But you can’t tell me there won’t be some uncomfortable “WTF??” glances as they watch the abuse and non-calls the 20 seconds proceeding the crosscheck." another fan commented.

"5k fine and we’ll see him Tuesday!" a fan commented.

"When will the league have a hearing with the ref from this game who allowed the Canucks to hold him on the ground for the last 20 seconds of this game," one fan wrote.

The incident also sparked a scrum and in a separate incident, Vancouver's Tyler Myers cross-checked Edmonton's Evan Bouchard in the face, earning a penalty as well. Both cases will be reviewed as the league evaluates supplemental discipline.

Oilers HC Kris Knoblauch on Connor McDavid's cross-check on Conor Garland's face

Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch offered his perspective on Connor McDavid's controversial cross-check to the face of Vancouver's Conor Garland.

"There's a rivalry, and Connor gets frustrated," Knoblauch said to reporters after the game. "Connor gets his stick up, and he's frustrated because we're down one goal, and the best player in the league is getting held for 15 seconds. there's frustration that's allowed to happen, and his stick got up."

McDavid's teammate Leon Draisaitl downplayed the incident.

"It's hockey, it happens," Draisaitl said. "It's intense. It's just the way it goes sometimes. Obviously couldn't get one, and then a little bit of fisticuffs. Nothing major."

The Oilers await the league's ruling on the severity of the incident.