The Washington Capitals’ Andrew Cristall saw his preseason debut end with 7:07 remaining in the second period after he picked up a five-minute major and an automatic game misconduct for cross-checking Flyers defenseman Hunter McDonald in the face.

McDonald caught Cristall’s linemate Ryan Leonard with a heavy hit along the boards, sending Leonard to the ice. Cristall skated straight over and drove his stick up into McDonald’s face. Both teams came together in the Caps’ zone, the officials moving in quickly to try to restore order.  McDonald was slow to get up but was able to stay in the game. Leonard was not injured on the original hit that prompted the whole incident.

The referees assessed Cristall a five-minute major for cross-checking under Rule 59.3. That call includes an automatic game misconduct.

Rule 59 – Cross-Checking

The action of using the shaft of the stick between the two hands to forcefully check an opponent.

A minor penalty, at the discretion of the Referee based on the severity of the contact, shall be imposed on a player who “cross checks” an opponent.

A major penalty, at the discretion of the Referee based on the severity of the contact, shall be imposed on a player who “cross checks” an opponent. When a major penalty is assessed for cross-checking, an automatic game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on the offending player.

The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent by cross-checking.

It’s worth noting that the officials did not deem this intent to injure, and therefore not deserving of a match penalty. 

The major penalty call puts Cristall on the Department of Player Safety’s radar, with supplemental discipline possible under Rule 28.  While McDonald wasn’t injured on the play, it was still a dangerous, intentional cross-check above the shoulders.  

A one-game suspension would be in line with prior Player Safety rulings. 

  • Nov 2024 – Timo Meier cross-checks Zachary L’Heureux in the face as retaliation for a questionable hit on a teammate 
    Major & game misconduct.  1 game suspension.
  • Oct 2025 – Jonathan Drouin cross-checks Connor Dewar in the head
    Major & game misconduct.  1 game suspension.
  • Apr 2026 – Darnell Nurse cross-checks Quinton Byfield in the face
    Major & game misconduct.  1 game suspension.

Player Safety doesn’t sit out just because it’s the preseason. We’ve had players suspended in the past for preseason shenanigans. Calgary’s Brennan Othmann may also be getting a call after an elbow that saw him ejected from Sunday’s game against the Seattle Kraken.

Cristall has obviously never been suspended in the NHL, but he did get a one-game ban from the WHL in 2025… for cross-checking.

If Player Safety has him sit, he wouldn’t be the first player to be suspended prior to making his NHL debut. Philadelphia Flyers forward Steve Downie was hit with a massive 20-game suspension in 2007 for an illegal hit on Dean McAmmond of the Ottawa Senators.

UPDATE 9/22:  Cristall has avoided a suspension; he’s been fined $2,250.86, the maximum allowable under the CBA without a formal hearing. 

The Washington Capitals went on to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2. Working the game were referees Jake Brenk (#26) and Liam Maaskant (#45), with linespersons CJ Murray (#68) and Chris Martenet (#78).