FRAME BY FRAME VIDEO: TURNS OUT MACKINNON DIDN'T WHACK LINESMAN AFTER ALL

After the Bruins had stretched their lead to 5-1, MacKinnon lost the post-goal centre ice faceoff to the Bruins' Tomas Nosek and appeared to slash linesman Michael Cormier in the leg. Here's the video:

Looks pretty obvious from that angle, right?

So how could NHL Hockey Operations already be dismissing the issue as reported by Nick Kypreos late this afternoon?

Special treatment of a star player, perhaps? Remember when Antoine Vermette (then with Anaheim) slashed a linesman after a faceoff and received a ten-game suspension?

How does Vermette get ten and MacKinnon nothing? Well, the internet is a beautiful thing.

Cue Avalanche content contributor, Nathan Rudolph:

Thanks Nathan!