Why was Connor McDavid suspended? Oilers star slapped with 3-game ban for cross-checking Conor Garland

The Oilers have won eight of their last 10 games dating back to New Year's Eve, but they will be without the face of their franchise for nearly a week.

The NHL suspended Connor McDavid three games Monday, two days after he cross-checked Vancouver's Conor Garland at the end of a melee between the two. Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers was also suspended three games for cross-checking Evan Bouchard.

McDavid received a match penalty, which is an ejection along with a five-minute major penalty, as a result of the incident. 

Here's a look at what McDavid did to earn a suspension and which games he will miss.

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Why was Connor McDavid suspended?

McDavid received a match penalty after cross-checking Garland's face Saturday. The skirmish began when McDavid landed on Garland and didn't allow him to get up, leading to punches between the two. Once the two players separated from one another, McDavid went back and hit Garland's face with the shaft of his stick. 

Connor McDavid has been suspended for three games for cross-checking Conor Garland. pic.twitter.com/eDLhaCouCD

A match penalty requires "intent to injure," and intent to injure is something that will catch the NHL's attention every time. In fact, it's required to catch the NHL's attention. Any player who receives a match penalty cannot return until the league office rules on punishment. In this case, the league decided McDavid's actions should force him to miss three more games. 

McDavid might have been hoping for a lighter suspension, but he's instead set to miss games against the Capitals, Canucks and Sabres. The three-time Hart Trophy winner has 65 points on 20 goals and 45 assists through 43 games this season, putting him well on pace for another 100-point season.

McDavid will be eligible to return on Jan. 27 at home against the Kraken. 

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What is cross-checking in hockey?

Cross-checking occurs when a player uses the shaft of his stick to hit another player. When cross-checking an opponent, a player has both hands on the stick, and no part of the stick is touching the ice.

That describes what happened between McDavid and Garland, as the skirmish between the two players seemed to have wrapped up when McDavid took his stick and shoved it into the face of Garland with both hands.