Player Safety announces discipline for Blake Lizotte after a cowardly crosscheck.

The National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety will be coming down on Los Angeles Kings forward Blake Lizotte for what many felt was a cowardly crosscheck on Saturday night.

During a game contested between Lizotte's Kings and the Winnipeg Jets, Lizotte delivered a crosscheck to the face of an unsuspecting Josh Morrissey, earning himself a match penalty and game misconduct in the process. It looked as though Morrissey was challenging Lizotte to drop the gloves, but instead of accepting the challenge or simply declining to fight Morrissey, Lizotte instead hit him with the cheap shot to the face.

Here's a look at a video replay of the incident:

Despite the attempts from the Kings' broadcast to paint the crosscheck as an act of self-defense, it is clear that the Department of Player Safety and George Parros do not agree with that assessment. The Department of Player Safety has announced that Lizotte will now face a hearing for his actions, and you have to believe that a suspension will quickly follow for the Kings forward.