Bruins forward David Pastrnak was not happy about being sent to the penalty box midway through the third period of Boston's Game 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, and for good reason.
David Pastrnak - not thrilled on that call. pic.twitter.com/XMygbhZYPG
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) May 1, 2018
After an offensive zone faceoff, Pastrnak engaged in a puck battle with Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman and lifted his opponent's stick, pushing it up into his face.
The referees whistled Pastrnak for high-sticking, but replays showed that Pastrnak's stick never made contact with Hedman's face.
Pastrnak got a double minor for high sticking but Hedman hit himself with his own twig. Great work. pic.twitter.com/3SJccFCa2B
— Ian McLaren (@iancmclaren) May 1, 2018
To make matters worse for the Bruins forward, Hedman was bleeding under the eye after the incident, which qualified the penalty as a four-minute double-minor. In addition, Boston coach Bruce Cassidy did not have the option of challenging the high-sticking call.
Looking at it again, this is a huge break for the Lightning to get this 4-minute power play. Pastrnak's stick hit Hedman's stick and Hedman's stick hit him under the eye. Pastrnak called it right away, but he is still in the box.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) May 1, 2018
Boston managed to kill off the resulting power play, giving the Bruins a chance to overcome their 2-1 deficit with a little over eight minutes left to play.
Some puck justice here. #NHLBruins kill off the four-minute "high-sticking" penalty.
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) May 1, 2018
They didn't take that chance as Lightning forward Ondrej Palat doubled Tampa's lead a few minutes later and Brayden Point's empty-net goal canceled out a Torey Krug marker to give the Lightning a 4-2 win.
The second-round series will shift to Boston on Wednesday tied at one game apiece.