jack eichel lays a very dangerous cross check to mattias ekholm, sending him into the boards, and doesn’t get penalized for it. 🥴
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‘This is not a serious league’: Oilers fans react to non-call for Jack Eichel’s hit on Mattias Ekholm
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
By Zach Laing
Dec 14, 2024, 18:23 ESTUpdated: Dec 14, 2024, 18:34 EST
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.
Quinn Hughes got five and a game for this hit on Josh Norris last month. Downright crazy to me that Eichel's hit (below) gets nothing.
Quinn Hughes was given a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for this hit on Josh Norris. 🎥: Sportsnet | NHL
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.
Remember when Pietrangelo gave Draisaitl the lumberjack chop and only got one game? I’m remembering that if I’m the Oilers right now. You don’t let Eichel lay that hit without paying for it.
Here’s what others said about the hit:
If the Hughes crosscheck was a suspension and a major then Eichel's should be too.
if that’s not a cross checking penalty idk what is
Even eichel knew it was a penalty lol
How did he get NOTHING for that!?!?!?!?
Vegas can't lose with dignity. So they'll get dirty. Make them hurt on the scoreboard. Do it. Don't look back. Just push push push
“No sir I wouldn’t dream of calling that a penalty” @OilersNation
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.
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