McDavid downplays Virtanen hit after Oilers prospects rout Canucks

Connor McDavid took a big hit in his professional debut, but the Edmonton Oilers top prospect says the check he received from Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen isn't worth much further discussion.

"I got hit, it was part of the game," McDavid told reporters after the Oilers' 8-2 victory over the Canucks in the first game of the 2015 Young Stars Tournament on Friday. "Whatever, it's fine. It's a hockey game and that stuff's going to happen."

Virtanen leveled McDavid in the Oilers' defensive zone just over four minutes into the contest.

"I saw him at the last second and wanted to get a good hit on him," Virtanen said.

Gerry Fleming, the head coach of Edmonton's American Hockey League affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, was behind the bench for the Oilers' prospects and said McDavid has to get accustomed to being on the receiving end of physical play.

"I think he’s going to have to get used to that," Fleming said. "It’s his first pro game and I’m sure that’s not going to be the last time that happens and I’m not sure that has been the first time that’s happened to him in the past. He’s a good player and there are going to be guys who come at him hard and that’s the way it’s going to be. He’s going to have to get used to it, if he’s already not used to it."

Edmonton head coach Todd McLellan agreed with Fleming and said the hit wasn't malicious.

"I thought it was a clean hit, and he's going to have to take those hits," McLellan said in the first intermission. "I didn't think there was anything wrong with that situation, and we (have) to maintain (our) focus."

The hit in question led to Virtanen taking a retaliatory check from Oilers winger Mitch Moroz; that was followed by offsetting roughing minors being issued to Virtanen and Edmonton's Darnell Nurse.

As for McDavid's offensive contributions, the first overall pick notched an assist on a goal by Nurse in the second period, then scored on a deflection off a Canucks' player's stick midway through the final frame.

"I obviously could have played better personally, but the team did a great job and played a very good game for the first game of the year," McDavid said.