GIF: Brooks Laich axe chops Dustin Byfuglien

In the first period of Thursday night's game between the Washington Capitals and the Winnipeg Jets, Capitals checker Brooks Laich checked Andrew Andrew Ladd and in doing so caught Jets swingman Dustin Byfuglien with an unintentional high-stick.

Then Laich did something that looked significantly less accidentally. The Capitals checker just axe chopped Byfuglien across his back with his stick. 

Seriously:

[Courtesy TSN]

Laich escaped this incident without being penalized for either obvious infraction.