NHL DoPS Makes Suspension Decision on Capitals' Cross-Checks to the Faces of Gallagher and Caufield

The Montreal Canadiens are in trouble after falling into a 2-0 hole against the Washington Capitals in the opening round of the postseason.

After dropping last night's Game 2, the Canadiens now have no choice but to win 4 of the next 5 games to avoid a 1st round elimination.

Adding insult to injury for Canadiens fans was the recent decision by the NHL Department of Player Safety not to punish any Capitals players for their cross checks to the face of Montreal players.

Montreal forward Cole Caufield was irate late in the 3rd period after taking a cross check up high from Washington's Nic Dowd that knocked him to the ice in front of the Washington net:

Cameras captured him jawing at the on-ice officials from the bench, demanding to know why a penalty wasn't called.

Montreal's Brendan Gallagher took a cross check up high for the 2nd straight game, this time from Washington defenseman Matt Roy, who was unpenalized.

Gallagher also took a high cross check in Game 1 from defenseman Alexander Alexeyev, which also went unpenalized.

Regardless, the Canadiens cannot allow themselves to get too frustrated by the rotten breaks that they're experiencing. Playing in front of their roaring crowd at Bell Centre in Montreal for Games 3 and 4 should give them an emotional boost, but they'll have to make the most of it to avoid having to go home for an early summer.