Kari Lehtonen

In the Face: Nick Backstrom’s Cross-Check Negates Go-Ahead Goal

This has nothing to do with the Backstrom play, but, you know, it’s now A Thing. (GIF by welshhockeyfan)

With the Washington Capitals locked in 1-1 game with the Dallas Stars, Nicklas Backstrom crashed the net. That’s great. Net crashing is cool. But when John Carlson whacked the puck towards the crease, Nicky did something naughty after missing the tip-in: he cross-checked Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen in the face. That’s not allowed. Lehtonen went down hard, throwing his blocker off in the process.

Initially, the refs ruled it a good goal. After conferring, though, Backie’s goal was waved off due to incidental contact, according the NHL.

“[N]o goal, no penalty,” the league said on its website. “This play is the referee’s call on the ice and is not reviewable.”