The Edmonton Oilers were running up the score on the Vegas Golden Knights Saturday afternoon, racking up a 5-0 lead with seven minutes left in the second period.
Vegas put together a quick response, however, as Viktor Olofsson and Noah Hanifin’s back-to-back goals in 45 seconds saw them get some life. But moments after that second goal, things got ugly when Jack Eichel laid a dangerous cross-check to the back of Mattias Ekholm.
It happened near the boards in the Oilers’ defensive zone as both went to chase after a loose puck in the corner. Ekholm had the inside track to Eichel, and as soon as he went to make a play on the puck, he took a vicious cross-check in the back. Eichel’s stick work sent Ekholm flying into the boards head first, and thankfully for the Oilers, Ekholm was able to get back up to his feet, joining scrum that built as he collected himself.
Eichel was taken to the penalty box when the scrum broke up, but for some reason, referees didn’t issue him a penalty on the play.
It drew the ire of many on social media.
“This is not a serious league,” Twitter user Kinger999 wrote.
It also caught CanucksArmy editor David Quadrelli off guard, sharing a clip from a Nov. 23rd Vancouver Canucks game against the Ottawa Senators. It highlighted how Quinn Hughes was handed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for laying a similar cross-check to the back of Josh Norris.
Oilersnation’s Jason Gregor chimed in, saying: “NHL’s willingness to allow hits/crosschecks from behind three feet from the boards is utterly ridiculous. I truly don’t understand it.” More Oilersnation staffers shared their thoughts on it, too. Liam Horrobin said “That is an unbelievable no call,” while Baggedmilk thought the same: “How is that not a penalty on Eichel?”
Tyler Yaremchuk, meanwhile, referred back to Alex Pietrangelo’s lumberjack chop on Leon Draisaitl in the 2023 playoffs.
Here’s what others said about the hit:
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist, making up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.