What is cross-checking in hockey?

It's the deciding game of a 2019 first-round matchup between the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks. The two teams are fighting for the right to advance to the next round. It was a long, intense series that looked like it would end in a whimper. In the third period, the Golden Knights lead, 3-0, keeping the hometown Sharks in check. Then, disaster struck with 10 minutes left.

A controversial penalty on Cody Eakin was called, where he cross-checked Joe Pavelski in the chest. As a result, a major penalty and game misconduct were called, with San Jose going on a five-minute power play. That led to four unanswered goals that swung the momentum and the lead, with a late goal by Jonathan Marchessault sending the game into overtime.

Still, San Jose won the game in overtime, 5-4, moving on to the next round. The NHL did apologize for their call on Eakin. However, it was too late for Vegas was out of the playoffs. It was a traumatic event that ended a season and tore a fanbase up. With that, let's examine a cross-check and whether the Eakin call was valid.

The definition of a cross-check (and how the Vegas Golden Knights were shafted)

Cross-checking is defined on the USA Hockey website as the following:

Cross-checking is the action of using the shaft of the stick between the two hands to forcefully check an opponent with no portion of the stick on the ice.

Like boarding, the severity of the penalty is based on the impact and if the offender recklessly endangers his opponent. If that's the case, a five-minute major is assessed and the victimized team gets a power play that doesn't end with a goal.

In the case of Cody Eakin, his cross-check hit Joe Pavelski in the chest. Initially, a major penalty was called because the cross-check went for the head. However, the NHL admitted their mistake after the game. Still, it was too late with the Vegas Golden Knights eliminated.

The San Jose Sharks went to the Western Conference Final, where they lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the St. Louis Blues, in six games. Meanwhile, Vegas won their first Stanley Cup five years later, putting the unfortunate event behind them.

Yes, the Eakin cross-check was a terrible event that the referees horribly misjudged. It cost the team a chance to go further in the playoffs and make another run for the Stanley Cup. However, winning the championship cures all ailments, as they would do in 2023.