LA Kings Forward Tyler Toffoli Gets Ejected For This Brutal Hit On Alex Burrows [VIDEO]

The Vancouver Canucks took on the LA Kings in Los Angeles on Saturday in a crucial game that could have decided who would take control over seocnd place in the NHL's Pacific Divison. The score was tied 1-1 in the third period when a 30 second span changed everything. The Canucks were on a power play after Drew Doughty was sent to the box for slashing. Vancouver was looking for the game winning goal when a turnover led to a shorthanded breakway for Kings forward Tyler Toffoli. Toffoli was denied the goal by Canucks goalie Eddie Lack, and seconds later, Toffoli sent Vancouver forward, Alex Burrows, into the boards with a brutal cross check.

The hit had been lingering between both players throughout the game. Early in the second period, during a scuffle in front of the net, Burrows picked up Toffoli and threw him to the ice as both players exchanged blows. The two players continued their verbal jarring for the remainder of the game until the hit occured. It's no coincidence the shot came seconds after a frustrated Toffoli missed a breakaway chance that would have given his team the lead and perhaps a share of the Pacific Division. Toffoli was immediately ejected for the hit, and Burrows went into the locker room, but returned to the bench with just under two minutes left in the game.

Toffoli received a five-minute major penalty for boarding and the Canucks received a 5-on-3 man advantage for the next minute of the game. Seconds later, the Canucks scored thanks to that advantage and went on to win the game 4-1. The win gave Vancouver breathing room in the Western Conference Stanley Cup playoff race and in the Pacific Divison where they are fighting with the Kings and Calgary Flames. Had the Kings won, they would have been tied with Vancouver for second place in the division, and for 5th place in the Western Conference. With the loss, the Kings stay in ninth place, with their hopes of making the playoffs slowly fading away.