Thursday night at American Airlines Center got ugly quick. Former Caps prospect and current Dallas Star Cody Eakin has been ejected after an indefensible and incomprehensible hit on goalie demigod Henrik Lundqvist.
Nine minutes into the game, Lundqvist retrieves the puck behind his net while defenseman Brady Sekjei prepares for the pass.
The pass never comes. Eakin screams in from the right side of the ice, cuts between Lundqvist and the boards, and delivers an elbow to the goalie’s head. His helmet flying off, Lundqvist collapses to the ice.
From the great Stephanie:
https://twitter.com/myregularface/status/809578610394742784
Eakin gets a major penalty+misconduct pic.twitter.com/EMgqf8YDgn
— Stephanie (@myregularface) December 16, 2016
The good news: after spending time in the quiet room for evaluation, Lundqvist returned to the net five game minutes later.
Eakin was assessed a charging major and a game misconduct. He’ll have a stern chat with the Department of Player Safety soon to boot.
This hit is — I’m flabbergasted. You — uh — you can’t do that in hockey.
Eakin has no goals and one point through 13 games this season. Lundqvist is saving .912 at all strengths while he lulls his opposition into a false sense of security, that clever handsome bastard. He’ll be fine.
I mean that with a double meaning. He’ll be fiiiiine.
