The incident occurred after McDavid and Garland became entangled in the high slot for about 15 seconds. Frustration boiled over as McDavid wrestled free and delivered a "brutal cross-check," as described by one of the Sportsnet game announcers, that struck Garland in the head, sending him to the ice.

The captain was assessed a match penalty for the incident, which comes with an automatic suspension pending a review by the commissioner.

Make no mistake, what transpired at the end of Saturday night’s game was ugly. Cross-checks to the head and neck, no matter the reason for it, are more than deserving of supplemental discipline.