(1) cross checks like this happen very frequently and are either ignored as part of a physical game or assessed a 2-minute minor to keep things under control, and (2) Pavelski is trying to help his team get an advantage and spark by exaggerating his reaction (i.e., flopping) on the contact. A team captain like that is very accustomed to taking a hit like that after winning a faceoff, and Pavelski knew his team needed an advantage. He flopped, lost control, and really hurt himself in the process. (This is something nobody seems willing to say because of how serious he appears to have been injured, but consider the time left, being down 3-0, and a team trying to get an advantage and back into the game. To me, it appears that he tried to sell the cross-check - knowing that it's a pretty routine hit unlikely to get a whistle - and he hurt himself by going out of control to sell it.) The refs saw blood on the ice and a man genuinely injured, and they figured they must have missed something egregious.

The fact that the officials didn't call the penalty in live action and later - after seeing a player's injury - called a five-minute major is really embarrassing for the league and the officials. After watching it on replay, the logical call would have been a no-call or a 2-minute minor, but the 5-minute major was excessive. I'm sure the referees didn't expect the onslaught that followed, but they shouldn't have given San Jose that major and unfair advantage.

The Sharks took advantage, an the Knights collapsed (though they showed strength in tying the game in the last minute), but the referees absolutely took the game from the Knights. At its worst, this should have been a 2-minute minor penalty (i.e., no intent by Eakin to injure the player, no running start or shot to the head/neck region), and the Sharks would have scored one goal. The Knights regroup and head on to win 3-1 or 4-2 (with Sharks desperation leading to a goal on both sides in the final minutes).

If you don't think this changed the game in an unfair way; your either don't know hockey or aren't being objective.