Capitals' forward receives maximum punishment after high cross-check on Flyers defenseman

It did not take long for this one to make the rounds.

Cristall, the Capitals forward prospect still fighting for a spot on the Opening Night roster, saw his preseason debut end early after he skated over and cross-checked McDonald right in the face.

The whole thing started because McDonald had just leveled Cristall's linemate Ryan Leonard with a hard, clean hit into the boards.

Cristall did not hesitate. He came off the wall, got his stick up high, and sent McDonald to the ice before both benches got tangled up in the corner.

The officials wasted no time either.

Cristall picked up a five minute major and an automatic game misconduct, and his night was over with 7:07 left in the second period.

McDonald was shaken up but stayed in the game, and Leonard, who had already put Washington ahead earlier in the frame, walked away from the original hit unhurt.

This is the part that stings a little more than the dollar amount suggests.

Cristall is running out of chances to show the Capitals he belongs on the Opening Night roster, and getting flagged by Player Safety, even for a fine instead of a suspension, is not the kind of attention he wants right now.

He has already served a one game ban in the WHL for a similar play, so this is not exactly new territory for him.

Player Safety clearly saw this as retaliation more than malice, which is likely why it landed on a fine rather than games missed.

Still, a cross-check that high, thrown with that much force, almost always draws a look from the league office no matter the intent behind it.

Coach Spencer Carbery already made his feelings known after the game, saying Cristall's heart was in the right place even if his hands got a little too high in the moment.

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