...just think that he exaggerated his reaction to the cross-check (i.e., flailing) and that this caused him to lose his balance and fall more awkwardly than he normally would have. Given the point in the game and how important a power play would have been to the Sharks at the time, it seems like a normal act by a player trying to "sell" a penalty. The reality is that pretty routine cross-checks like Eakin's happen pretty regularly, and there's a 50/50 chance that they get called for a 2-minute minor. In this case, I personally think Pavelski exaggerated the reaction to the check in an attempt to get the referees' attention and to get a power play.

I was sickened to see the outcome, and I recognize that Pavelski is a class-act and an inspiring leader. (Just look at how the Sharks rallied around him and responded; it was pretty awesome to see how much they stepped up for him.) I'm simply saying that at that point in the game, I think he was trying to get his team an advantage and oversold the check, which led to him being off-balance and falling to the ice.

I still think the check itself could have been a no-call (which is how the referees apparently felt by not calling any penalty in live action), and I would have understood if it had been a 2-minute minor. (Like I said; 50/50 chance of a penalty on a hit like that at the faceoff circle.)