It was a 2...4 if you need it to be, but 5 was excessive. Considering the number of calls ignored on both teams throughout, to drop the hammer there was not a good look. That was over the top.

That said 4 goals given up on that was an even worse look, that isn’t even talking about the 3-1 series lead.

Any Cross check high stick that draws blood is at least 4 minutes . this was bad a cross check to the head is a major that creates injury is a major penalty...

GOOD CALL>..
- thechezman

it was not a cross check to the head...wow...not even close...it was a typical post faceoff crosscheck to the chest and knocked joepa off balance...

I think You need to review the rules, regarding Eakins goal.

As I understand (and I could be wrong?), because Eakins wasn't close enough to the net, the crossbar is NOT the gauge for a high stick, and it changes to shoulder height.

Maybe someone can confirm this, but if true, then a goal was absolutely the right call, video replay did not show his stick was above the plane of his shoulders.

at worst 2 min. i see worst in front of the net every game not get called
- nyislsbossy

There is always poop going on in front of the net and it never gets called. But from the face of circle is a different story. Should it be is debatable but that's reality.

It’s my understanding from every VGK fan I’ve talked to that hockey was invented in October 2017.
- Sharks77

Look at you calling the kettle black.

...because we all know San Jose is woven into the fabric of NHL history and tradition.

I bet you couldn't name the original Six without looking it up, not that you'll answer honestly.

We simply don't know whether a crosscheck is a 5 min major, a 2 min penalty, nothing, or a 5 game suspension. Seems to be at the whim of the refs

If Vegas wants to still whine, How about the missed SPEARING Call that Colin Miller did to Timo Meier in OT after a Couture shot which Fluery made the save on, Or let's go back to that joke of a call by Kelly Sutherland on Couture goaltender interfence in game 2 when Couture wasn't even in the blue paint & Fleury flopped like a seal out of water.

If anything stop the Sharks PP or maybe your coach Melon Head Gallant should of called a Timeout after the 2nd goal to stop the mometum
- Sharks77

That was an absolute bs call

We simply don't know whether a crosscheck is a 5 min major, a 2 min penalty, nothing, or a 5 game suspension. Seems to be at the whim of the refs
- BestRapperAlive

that's literally in the rule book

Look at you calling the kettle black.

...because we all know San Jose is woven into the fabric of NHL history and tradition.

I bet you couldn't name the original Six without looking it up, not that you'll answer honestly.
- nikel

at least the NHL didn't change the rules for the sharks guaranteeing them the playoffs in the first year

Yes I think it was worth a Penalty, 4 min double minor IMO. 5 minute Major was excessive however the Knights have no one else to blame but themselves. It is up to the players to kill of the penalty. 5 Minute majors happen in hockey and In dont recall any time I have seen a team give up 4 during one! Vegas had no problem killing any of the other Penalties, you should be able to kill off the 5 minute major without giving up more than a goal or two.

We simply don't know whether a crosscheck is a 5 min major, a 2 min penalty, nothing, or a 5 game suspension. Seems to be at the whim of the refs
- BestRapperAlive

1) To me it looked like he had 1 hand on the stick, so I am not sure I would call it a crosscheck

2) It is in the rulebook. A crosscheck is 2 minutes unless it is severe enough to be called for 5 minutes. Pavelski was seriously hurt and he was bleeding.

Crosschecking is classified as follows:

While body checking is allowed, the use of the stick increases the risk of injury to an opponent. The most common penalty is a two-minute minor, served by the offender. However under certain circumstances the referee may assess a major penalty (plus an automatic game misconduct) or a match penalty if the action is judged to be an attempt to injure the player. Usually, if the cross-check causes an injury the league itself may look into whether extra punishment is required for the player that delivered the check. (No body checks in women's hockey.)

I don't have a dog in this fight, if anything I was probably rooting for the Sharks, but Don VanMassenhoven isn't exactly an impartial outside source.

These are the rules:



That reads that a major penalty should be assessed based on the severity of the contact, at the referees discretion. Not based on the severity of the injury. Game misconduct is automatic when there is a major x-check penalty.
- eichiefs9

The contact between Pavelski's head and the ice was quite severe.

2 minutes that it.

The contact between Pavelski's head and the ice was quite severe.
- RonPielep

Well I guess they should have ejected the ice then

How about that effing team has had everything handed to them on a silver platter. Suck it up. Maybe they can find a Sabres fan to whine with about Hull’s skate. I’m sure they wouldn’t understand the reference.
- bazz

This!

Bad call - yep

Vegas had 3 chances to eliminate SJ - went 0-3

SJ had 1 cancel to eliminate Vegas and crushed them.

Lesson is, dont give a team a chance when you have the opportunity to end them.

Sorry Vegas, welcome to the NHL

Well I guess they should have ejected the ice then
- eichiefs9

Dangerous contact with the boards can lead to big penalties and injuries even though the player-to-player contact isn't too severe. Maybe the rule isn't only referring to player-to-player contact.

Dangerous contact with the boards can lead to big penalties and injuries even though the player-to-player contact isn't too severe. Maybe the rule isn't only referring to player-to-player contact.
- RonPielep

Right but getting hit in the numbers is clear evidence that the boards are being used in a dangerous manner. That type of cross check happens 100x a game and he made contact with another Vegas player before hitting the ice. Kinda hard to assign unwavering blame on Eakin with any degree of certainty.

It was a 2...4 if you need it to be, but 5 was excessive. Considering the number of calls ignored on both teams throughout, to drop the hammer there was not a good look. That was over the top.

That said 4 goals given up on that was an even worse look, that isn’t even talking about the 3-1 series lead.
- Doogs

How is this relevant? "Let's see, you're winning by 3 goals, you might win game 7, but just to be sure that you should advance to the next round, we're going to test you: Here's a gratuitous 5-minute major, let's see if you can kill it off, otherwise you're not worthy."

2 min at the most but getting screwed over could not happen to a better franchise and fan base than Vegas.

How is this relevant? "Let's see, you're winning by 3 goals, you might win game 7, but just to be sure that you should advance to the next round, we're going to test you: Here's a gratuitous 5-minute major, let's see if you can kill it off, otherwise you're not worthy."
- dashripdot

I said I didn’t like the call. I said if you were calling something it should have been 2. If you had to inflate it based on blood, go 4.

But giving up 4 goals on a 5 minute PK is not good on the PK.

I thought I was fair.

How is this relevant? "Let's see, you're winning by 3 goals, you might win game 7, but just to be sure that you should advance to the next round, we're going to test you: Here's a gratuitous 5-minute major, let's see if you can kill it off, otherwise you're not worthy."
- dashripdot

Now you get it, just like him !

Eakin crosschecked him in the throat and then Stastny interfered with him. The zebras mustve missed the hit and just saw the result which was blood pouring out of Pavelski's head. My money was on the Sharks so I'm not complaining


Spare me the crocodile tears for Vegas, they got a lot of favourable calls this and last year and being a Buttman expansion team will continue to get many more in the future. Let's not pretend like they didn't blow a 3-1 series lead so maybe they should look themselves in the mirror instead of crying about the officials


And yes, my money was on Bruins last night as well, I had been saying since Day 1 Boston was going to win, took a lot of poop for it but ultimately was proven correct again

Where are all those Leafs fans that were talking poop now, love to say it but I told ya so


Went 4-0 last night and cashed them all continuing to kill it, all season and playoffs

Ek if you're tired of losing money with your picks, holla at your boy

It was definitely a horrible call - at most it should have been a double minor. However, there are good arguments for a single minor or no penalty. It looked accidental.

Having said that, Las Vegas deserves to loose if they are going to give up four goals in the resulting PK. It is impossible to win the Cup without facing serious adversity along the way - usually multiple times. "Losing their heads" by abandoning everything that has made them successful, namely their sound defense, is a sure way to lose.