Nikita Kucherov Forced to Leave Game After Getting Crosschecked In Torso, No Call On The Play

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov gets shaken up by a crosscheck, then misses his own hit on Mathew Barzal that makes him leave Game 6 against the New York Islanders.
----------------------------------------------

[AKmumu]

Is it Chris Lee? As a habs fan I understand your pain.. This ref is nuts and should be removed from the league

[BillsArsenalHabsFan]

I'm shocked that Chris Lee still has a job.

[Shiba]

And people said Habs fans were always blaming the refs, now you see who Chris Lee really is, not calling dangerous stuff.

[EXTREMERC]

Oh boy chris lee for game 6 and 7 rest in peace

[rebeltvr]

Habs fan here, this is Chris Lee. He's been doing this for a long time to the Habs. Now he's doing it to Tampa. I guess he has favorites, or he's just the worst ref...probably both.

[yannbeaudet]

I just can't believe that Chris Lee still officiating ! Nasty one no call !

[stevenskeens]

It's a fast game, I get it. But this ref has a track record. Send his ass to ref in a junior league. He's always too involved or not involved enough.

[poejavelski]

Now the Lightning are almost under the cap!

[bertraminc]

NHL Rule 59.4: “59.4 Match Penalty - The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, in his judgement, the player or goalkeeper attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent by cross-checking.” This was an obvious intentional attempt to injure Kucherov. He hit him in the ribs/back as hard as he could, after the puck was gone. The refs made no call. In between what the refs did and rule 59.4 was rule 59.2, minor penalty, and rule 59.3, major penalty. Nowhere in the NHL rules does it allow for the refs to simply not call a cross check for ANY REASON. The NHL and the refs are complicit in allowing teams to shape the playoffs by simply taking out the best players and ignoring the rules. A cross-check has to be called. There is no option to ignore a cross check. In my opinion, he knew before he stepped his skate on the ice that he was going to take Kucherov out of the game with a cross check. The refs know it. The NHL knows it. Anyone who watches this video knows it.

[deanostafichuk]

Absolutely brutal! NHL needs to follow the rules and if there are 20 penalties then so be it. You pay good money to see great players and they get a cheap shot and are eliminated from the game

[cousinpatsey]

How'd we lose Tim Peele for saying what literally everyone knew, and we keep this guy letting players get hurt every game?

[Baconmonkey]

Dude the ref was right in front of it crosscheck?

[curtisb]

Fire Chris Lee petition was at 26, 000 last I I have a feeling it's just a little higher now.

[justinsullivan]

Saw the cross check live and was baffled at the non-call. NHL has an issue with officiating. I’m not even a Bolts fan.

[marcjohnson]

Mayfield gets 3d Star of the game instead of a major penalty/suspension for putting Nikita Kucherov out of the game and later drawing blood on Stamkos with yet another vicious cross check from behind. Great ref'ing, great league discipline.

[EATBULLETZZonXbox]

I'm watching rn and no penalty 9n the cross check?? Are you serious the ref was watching the play and he cross checked him. The ref sucks

[tylerdowd]

yikes that crosscheck was kinda brutal

[iTzxKirA]

my prediction: the nhl will not care and will not listen about the ref problem, next year will push things passed the boiling point. things will get worse before they get better.

[sharkador]

Referees should be fired, the refs this playoffs have sucked. Please get them all out of the game and FIX IT.

[bwarned]

The islanders hurt a player with no call on the ice?! No waaayy. They haven’t been head hunting teams best players all playoffs or anything.