- Andrew Cristall was fined $2,250.86, the maximum allowed under the CBA, for cross-checking Hunter McDonald in the face
- The Capitals forward avoided a suspension even though three comparable cross-checks drew one-game bans since 2024
- Read below for Spencer Carbery’s reaction and what the ruling means for Cristall’s roster push
Andrew Cristall is out some money. He is not out of the lineup.
The NHL fined the Capitals forward $2,250.86 on Tuesday, the maximum allowed under the CBA without a formal hearing, for cross-checking Flyers defenseman Hunter McDonald in the face during Monday’s preseason game in Hershey. Player Safety passed on a suspension.
Watch the cross-check that ended his night:
It all started when McDonald ran Ryan Leonard into the boards midway through the second period. Cristall skated straight over and drove his stick up into McDonald’s face, then added a second cross-check to the back as McDonald went down.
Referees Jake Brenk and Liam Maaskant handed out a five-minute major under Rule 59.3, which carries an automatic game misconduct. Cristall was gone with 7:07 left in the second.
Here’s the hit on Leonard that set the whole thing off:
A fine is lighter than what the league has handed out for similar plays. Timo Meier sat a game for cross-checking Zachary L’Heureux in the face in November 2024. Jonathan Drouin sat a game for a cross-check to Connor Dewar’s head in October 2025. Darnell Nurse sat a game in April 2026 for catching Quinton Byfield up high, all three majors with game misconducts.
Spencer Carbery was asked after the game about Cristall jumping into the scrum.
“Heart was in the right place. I told the guys that. I mean, he’s trying to stick up for a teammate that just got hit. And I didn’t see the replay. Obviously, they gave him a five-minute major. But I told our guys, as AC’s in that moment, and obviously, it’s high or whatever they call him on the ice, but his heart’s in the right place.”
McDonald was slow to get up but stayed in the game, and Leonard came out of the original hit fine. The Capitals rolled to a 5-2 win.
Take a look at the highlights from Hershey:
Dodging a suspension means a lot more to Cristall than the money does. The 21-year-old is fighting for one of Washington’s last forward spots against Jonny Brodzinski, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Ethen Frank and Josh Dunne, and Monday was his first preseason look with the big club.
Cristall, the 40th pick in the 2023 draft, put up 20 goals and 40 assists in 72 games for the Hershey Bears last season. He has never played an NHL game.
Washington has two preseason games left, against Boston on Sept. 25 and the Flyers again on Sept. 26. Their opener is Oct. 2 against the defending champion Hurricanes.
