Officially: "Series supervisor Don VanMassenhoven said the major penalty was given because the cross-check caused a significant injury."
A penalty that would have been only 2, became a 5 minute major, because it caused a significant injury. It isn't rocket surgery. Minor penalties that cause significant injuries become majors.
I know people are emotional right now, but saying this is a "bad call" seems to be trying to work Eakin's intent into this. Eakin didn't mean for Pavelski to be that badly injured, obviously. But his minor yet obvious infraction became a major because it caused a significant injury (official wording).
Some are suggesting everyone fall down and act injured at every minor penalty then, if that is how the rule is - but there is already a penalty for that - it is called diving or embellishment. Pavelski was not embellishing.
The standard is not whether or not it caused an injury but the severity of the contact.
59.3 Major Penalty - 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 (see 59.5).
I mean for the purposes of this thread, I'm on record as saying if the Sharks win it will be because they earned it. But the explanation the refs gave doesn't match the rule.
EDIT: I just ctl+f'd through the rule book for significant injury and that term isn't even in the rulebook. But serious injury is. The only time it comes up is in these rules:
8.1 Injured Player: ...In the case where it is obvious that a player has sustained a serious injury, the Referee and/or Linesman may stop the play immediately.
32.5 Stopping Play - The Linesman shall stop play: (ii) When he deems that a player has sustained a serious injury and this has gone undetected by either of the Referees
39.2 Minor Penalty – A minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be assessed under this rule for the following infractions: (iii) Any player or players who bang the boards with their sticks or other objects at any time, or who, in any manner show disrespect for an official’s decision. If this is done in order to get the attention of the on - ice officials for a legitimate reason (i.e. serious injury, illness, etc.), then discretion must be exercised by the Referees.
39.3 Bench Minor Penalty - A bench minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be assessed under this rule for the following infractions: (i) Any Coach or non-playing person who bangs the boards with a stick or other object at any time, showing disrespect for an official’s decision. If this is done in order to get the attention of the on-ice officials for a legitimate reason (i.e. serious injury, illness, etc.), then discretion must be exercised by the Referees
The term is never used in concert with the standards set for major penalties or penalties involving cross checks.